A resurgent Goliath (5/1) returns to his beloved Ascot for a second crack at the Hardwicke Stakes.
The six-year-old French raider finished runner-up behind Isle Of Jura in this race two years ago before justifying a huge price in the King George little over a month later.
Whilst never being able to repeat that magnitude of performance, Francis-Henri Graffard has still managed to land four Group successes with the Alderflug gelding since.
Goliath roared back to form in the rand Prix De Chantilly last time out after suffering defeat on each of his last three starts.
Hardwicke Stakes odds
(Odds will display when market is available)
On paper, this looks like a Group 1 in all but name with six of the 12-strong field having tasted success at the very top level.
Kalpana (5/2) is chief amongst the leading contenders and has excellent credentials heading into Saturday. Connections opted to swerve Wednesday's red-hot renewal of the Prince of Wales's Stakes, instead hoping that their superstar mare can rack up a fifth Group win in the Hardwicke.
Not only is she a two-time winner of the Champion Fillies & Mares Stakes, she also ran Cartier European Horse of the Year Calandagan close in last year's King George; proving her love for Ascot.
Another that has to be factored in is Aidan O'Brien's Jan Brueghel (9/2). On peak form alone, he may just edge this field, especially if you take his Coronation Cup defeat of Calandagan 12 months ago.
He made his seasonal return in that very same race this season and, although he was soundly put away by Bay City Roller, there are all sorts of question marks around that form given the condition of the ground.
Willie Mullins has had a poor time of it at the Royal meeting so far this year but it would be unwise to rule the Master of Cloustton out of grabbing a winner before the week is done as he saddles globetrotting hero Ethical Diamond (10/1).
His victory in the Breeders' Cup Turf came as a huge surprise last November but he has clear ability, certainly enough to trouble the judge if he is on a going day.
Any odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and are subject to fluctuation.
