ASSEMBLY CLAIMS GRADE 1 GLORY

ASSEMBLY CLAIMS GRADE 1 GLORY

The Pat Fahy-trained Morning Assembly (14/1) battled hard to land the Grade 1 IRISH DAILY MIRROR NOVICE HURDLE under Davy Condon in the colours of Yorkshire-based Steve Parkin's Clipper Logistics.

"That's great because things have just not been happening this season. It's been very flat and Steve has been totally supportive," said Fahy. "When Inish Island loomed up I thought that was it. But in all his races Morning Assembly has been at his best in the last 300 yards and he kept on at the end today.

"That's him, he's a dour horse who stays. He'll definitely go chasing next season now."

The Sabrina Harty-trained Dalisiri (6/1) showed great resilience to hold off British raider Gassin Golf to capture the LOUIS FITZGERALD HOTEL HURDLE.

"He's beautifully-bred, beautifully-made with a good attitude," said Harty. "You could see today how competitive he is - when anything goes upsides him he doesn't want to let them pass.

"I'll probably give him a bit of a holiday after today and he could run on the flat again. It's a big step up for juveniles to go into Grade 1s but he's a class horse."

Dalisiri's jockey Barry Geraghty added: "Dalasiri is a little terrier. He looked beat but he flew the last and I thought I was going to get beat again halfway up the run-in but he ran on. He is dead game and as tough as nails."

Richard Lee, trainer of Gassin Golf, said: "If he had jumped the last better he could have won but he was beaten fair and square in the end. He'll be a novice for next season but he could head to Royal Ascot for the Ascot Stakes."

Gassin Golf's rider Richard Johnson said: "Gassin Golf was a bit careful at the last but he has run a cracker."

Trainer Ado McGuinness paid tribute to stable stalwart Beau Michael after the  nine-year-old scored at 25/1 in the opening MARTINSTOWN OPPORTUNITY SERIES FINAL HANDICAP HURDLE under David Splaine.

"I thought the ground had gone for him," said McGuinness. "But he is a tough old horse and a great old servant. I wish I had more like him and I think that's his 14th win for us.

"He is a graded winner too so he was the class horse in the race. He is very versatile and a few years ago he won a flat race, a hurdle and a chase in three weeks.

"It means a lot to win here and they are a great bunch of lads with me here today. They have had a few different horses with me and Beau Michael won in Galway for them a few years so it's great to win here as well

"He'll go back to the Flat and run in a couple of good handicaps over the summer and he could go for the Galway Plate because he has a nice mark over fences. But he's done so much for us that anything else he achieves is a bonus."

SIR CLAIMS GOLD

A fantastic renewal of THETOTE.COM PUNCHESTOWN GOLD CUP saw Sir Des Champs (2/1 favourite) fight off 2011 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Long Run to score by three-quarters of a length to the delight of trainer Willie Mullins.

"I thought at the stone wall that we were beat but Davy got a breather in and he seemed a different horse after that," said Mullins. "After the third last Davy went for it and it was decisive more and proved the right thing to do.

"He looked very well in himself and didn't look like he'd had a race at Cheltenham beforehand. He ran his heart out in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham and I hope we'll be back there for another go next year. I thought he jumped very well there and was disappointed the ground changed."

Jockey Davy Russell added: "His run at Cheltenham was great, he was only beaten in the last 100 yards and I was disappointed not to be riding there.

"It was tough today, I was tipping him along and I thought Cheltenham had taken its toll. I struggled to move him up the back. But he then completely filled up again and he had loads left at the last two. I always knew he was tough physically but he showed how mentally tough he was today.

"As to next season, if the other fellow (Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth) stays at that level and we improve a bit, then you never know."

Owner Michael O'Leary said: "Willie had him right on the day and Davy gave the horse a peach of a ride. The horse was good, but to be fair to Long Run, he never ducked it.

"The second and third from Cheltenham were fighting out the finish and it shows how good Bobs Worth it. I doubt we can reverse it with Bobs Worth, he's beaten First Lieutenant consistently and he's beaten them all.

"It was a massive training performance from Mouse (Morris) with First Lieutenant (who finished third) with a horse that had had races at Cheltenham and Aintree, on that ground."

Robert Waley-Cohen, owner of Long Run, commented: "I thought we might get there but we were beaten by a better horse on the day. I think that's the best race that Long Run has run for a long time - he was enjoying himself and showed a lot of determination.

"He was coming back at the winner at the end and is just unbelievably consistent. I think he enjoyed the new challenge of coming over here. We won't take him to France this year and his first target next season will be the King George and then plans will revolve after that. He is certainly likely to get an entry in the Grand National."

Trainer David Pipe sent over The Liquidator from Britain to land the Grade 1 Betdaq The People's Exchange INH Flat Race under Jane Mangan.

"There's not a lot of the horse but he's very tough and gutsy and a real trier," said Pipe. "It probably helped with the favourite coming out and our horse has been on the go for a long time.  He proved when second at Cheltenham in November that he's a decent horse and he has gone on from then. He'll be a smashing hurdler next year.

"Jane came well-recommended to us and she gave the horse a fantastic ride and it's lovely to win in Ireland."

Today's attendance was 16,410, compared to 11,577 on a waterlogged Wednesday 12 months ago.

INVESTEC DERBY TRIAL WINNER MIRSAALE BEING AIMED AT THE INVESTEC DERBY

Mirsaale won the £50,000 Investec Derby Trial, run over 10 furlongs at Epsom Downs' opening fixture of 2013 this afternoon, and will now be aimed at the premier Classic, held at the Surrey course on Saturday, June 1.

The three-year-old colt, trained by James Tate in Newmarket, triumphed in good style from seven rivals and enjoyed a length and a half advantage over Another Cocktail at the line.

The trainer commented: "We always thought he would handle a track like Epsom but we just didn't know whether he was good enough. So I am really delighted with Mirsaale's performance and Neil (Callan) gave him a great ride.

"I think we will be coming back here on Investec Derby Day - we will give him a whirl in the Classic.

"In meantime we will look at the Chester and Lingfield Derby trials and see if we can fit one of them in. He is a small, well-balanced horse who is ideally suited to these undulating courses, which don't suit the bigger longer-striding sorts.

"He is by a Derby winner in Sir Percy and is a half-brother to Meeznah who was a neck second in the Investec Oaks (2010) before being disqualified. So he was almost certain to like Epsom.

"Mirsaale was a decent two-year-old who ran very well on debut in a hot Newmarket market won by Ghurair and then he won his maiden and was a good third in a Haydock Park Listed race over a mile.

"He disappointed on his last race as two-year-old when going back to seven furlongs for a sales race on heavy ground. Today's conditions were more his cup of tea - faster ground, an undulating track and a longer trip.

"Mirsaale does not work very well at home but he has a hell of an attitude on the track - a real tough horse.

"He will be my first Classic runner. His owner Saif Ali has always wanted an Investec Derby runner which is why we entered Mirsaale at the second entry stage a couple of weeks ago. The colt deserves to take his chance now.

"I would have thought that a mile and a half will suit him even better but you never know until you have tried it. But we might send him over a mile and a half before the Derby."

The winning rider, Neil Callan, added: "I knew coming into this race that he would be quite fit as he is a clean-winded horse. He is also very well balanced so I thought he would handle the track.

"As regards the Investec Derby, it is going to be a much tougher race but you cannot take anything away from Mirsaale today. He has done everything right in this trial and ran to the line very well so I am pleased.

"He tries and I am sure he will stay so he has the right credentials - it is just a question of whether he is good enough."

The Investec Derby Trial kicked off the trials for the Investec Derby, Britain's richest race worth at least £1,325,000, and there will be plenty more clues over the next month to point to the winner on June 1

Coral, the official betting partner of the Investec Derby Festival, has cut Mirsaale to 50/1 from 66/1 for the Investec Derby.

Coral betting on the Investec Derby: 5 Telescope, 6 Mars, 7 Toronado, 8 Battle Of Marengo, Dawn Approach, Kingsbarns, 16 Foundry, Ocovango, 20 Loch Garman, Ruler Of The World, Secret Number, Trading Leather, Zand, 25 Improvisation, Indian Chief, Leading Light, Pedro The Great, Sardinia, Sir Walter Scott, Steeler, Tarikhi, Van Der Neer, Victory Song, 33  Achtung, Arbelan, Bravodino, Eye Of The Storm, Feel Like Dancing, Festive Cheer,  Fantastic Moon, Galileo Rock, Genius Boy, Greatwood, Lake Michigan, Lake Nova,  Leitir Mor, Lord Provost, Manndawi, Mighty Yar, Mutashaded, Parker Ridge, Qahir, Royal Flag, Saskatchewan, The Vatican, Vayakhan, Waver, 40 bar.

Please find all the current entries for the Investec Derby below.

ENTRIES FOR THE 2013 INVESTEC DERBY

Class 1, Group 1, £1,325,000 Total Prize Fund, 4pm, Epsom Downs, Saturday, June 1, 2013. For three-year-olds only, entire colts & fillies, one mile, four furlongs and 10 yards. Entries closed December 6, 2011 (442 entries). First scratchings deadline noon, March 5, 2013 (111 remained, 6 subsequently scratched), £8,000 secondary entry stage noon, April 9, 2013 (17 second entries received), second scratchings deadline noon, May 17, 2013, £75,000 supplementary entry & five-day confirmation stage, noon, May 27, 2013, final declaration stage 10am, May 30, 2013. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Wednesday, April 24, 2013. May not include some overseas form.

Form  Horse Owner Trainer

  ACHTUNG   Paul Makin     Jeremy Noseda

(5)-  AGREEMENT (IRE)  Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE

1123-  AL WAAB (IRE)  Mubarak Al Naemi    Sir Henry Cecil

51-  AMRALAH (IRE)  Prince A A Faisal    Mick Channon

0333-(1)2 ANOTHER COCKTAIL Michael Kerr-Dineen    Hughie Morrison

  ARBELAN (FR)  H H Aga Khan           Alain de Royer Dupre FR

114-  ASHDAN   Khalid Abdullah    John Gosden

  ATARAXIS (FR)  Niarchos Family    Sir Henry Cecil

4-34  AU REVOIR (IRE)  Sue Magnier,Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith Andre Fabre FR

3-13  BARADARI (IRE)  H H Aga Khan           Jean Claude Rouget FR

  BATTALION (IRE)  Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum  William Haggas

3111-1 BATTLE OF MARENGO (IRE) Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE

2-1  BRAVODINO (USA)  Niarchos Family    Jonathan Pease FR

(1)162-3 CAP O'RUSHES  Godolphin     Mahmood Al Zarooni

4(1)(1)- CAT O'MOUNTAIN (USA) Godolphin     Mahmood Al Zarooni

(4)-6  CHIEF EXECUTIVE (IRE) East Wind Racing Ltd & MarthaTrussell Jo Hughes

021310-(1) COUNT OF LIMONADE (IRE) Sue Magnier. Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE

3-(5)  DALGIG   Ken Gundlach     Jamie Osborne

5-  DANCE KING   Bjorn Nielsen     David Lanigan

6-  DARE TO ACHIEVE  Bernard Kantor & Markus Jooste  William Haggas

111111- DAWN APPROACH (IRE) Godolphin     Jim Bolger IRE

(4)-3  DEMONIC   Khalid Abdullah    Sir Henry Cecil

  DENOTE   Mrs E A Bass     Paul Cole

  DESERVING HONOUR Godolphin     Mahmood Al Zarooni

  ETERNAL RAY (IRE) George Strawbridge     Freddy Head FR

0-3  EVERGLADES ISLAND (IRE) Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE

34-0  EXCELLENT RESULT (IRE) Godolphin     Saeed bin Suroor

120-  EXCESS KNOWLEDGE Khalid Abdullah    John Gosden

13-  EYE OF THE STORM (IRE) Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE

1150-  FANTASTIC MOON  Saeed Suhail     Jeremy Noseda

1  FEEL LIKE DANCING Lady Bamford     John Gosden

5(1)-  FESTIVE CHEER (FR) Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE

3114-  FIRST CORNERSTONE  Team Valor International LLC  Andy Oliver IRE

120-  FLYING THE FLAG (IRE) Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE

32-12  FORTIFY (IRE)  Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE

1-  FOUNDRY (IRE)  Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE

  GALEB WARRIOR  Tony Bloom     William Haggas

15-  GALILEO ROCK (IRE) Michael O'Flynn    David Wachman IRE

  GENIUS BOY   Godolphin     Mahmood Al Zarooni

0019344-3 GLORY AWAITS (IRE) A & A      Kevin Ryan

(2)  GOLD MEDAL (IRE)  Julie Wood     Richard Hannon

23(1)-2 GREATWOOD  Highclere Thoroughbred Racing - Archer  Luca Cumani

  GROUNDBREAKING Godolphin     Mahmood Al Zarooni

(6)-  HEIRLOOM   Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE

41-2  HILLSTAR   Sir Evelyn de Rothschild   Sir Michael Stoute

23-1  IMPROVISATION (IRE) Godolphin     Mahmood Al Zarooni

2-1  INDIAN CHIEF (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE

5  JAMMY GUEST (IRE) John Guest Racing    George Margarson

(2)(2)(1)(1)2 KING GEORGE RIVER (IRE) John Stocker    Alan Bailey

351-2  KINGDOM (IRE)  Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE

11-  KINGSBARNS (IRE) Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE

2134-  KINGSTON JAMAICA (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE

  LAKE MICHIGAN (IRE) Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE

  LAKE NOVA (IRE)  Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE

41-  LEADING LIGHT (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Smith & Michael Tabor  Aidan O'Brien IRE

23(2)132-6 LEITIR MOR (IRE)  Jackie Bolger     Jim Bolger IRE

1  LIBERTARIAN   Hubert Strecker    Elaine Burke

40-0  LLAREGYB (IRE)  Anne Coughlan    David Elsworth

5(1)-  LORD PROVOST (IRE) Godolphin     Mahmood Al Zarooni

0(2)10- MAGICIAN (IRE)  Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE

  MANNDAWI (FR)  H H Aga Khan         Alain de Royer Dupre FR

(1)-  MARS (IRE)   Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE

(1)-  MIGHTY YAR (IRE)  Tony Evans     Sir Henry Cecil

 5130-1  MIRSAALE   Saif Ali      James Tate

001-2  MOMBASA  Wis Green Partners    Ralph Beckett

0-6  MORPHEUS    Khalid Abdullah    Sir Henry Cecil

1-  MUTASHADED (USA) Hamdan Al Maktoum    Roger Varian

  NELSON'S VICTORY Victory Bloodstock Limited   Jane Chapple-Hyam

416-  NEVIS (IRE)   Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor  & Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE

  NEW LOOK (IRE)  Sheikh Mohammed    No current trainer

231-  NICHOLS CANYON  Rachel Hood & Elaine Lawlor   John Gosden

04(6)(4)-0(0)0 OCEAN APPLAUSE  Bill McLuskey     John Ryan

1-1  OCOVANGO   Prince A A Faisal    Andre Fabre FR

  PARKER RIDGE (FR) Wildenstein Stables Limited   Luca Cumani

10150- PASAKA BOY  RWH Partnership    Jonathan Portman

51515- PEDRO THE GREAT (USA) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier &Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE

5(2)-2 PERSEPOLIS (IRE)   Highclere Thoroughbred Racing - Sloan  Sir Michael Stoute

3-4  PIET MONDRIAN  Denford Stud, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE

5  PLINTH (IRE)  Anne Marie O'Brien    Aidan O'Brien IRE

5-  POINT PIPER (USA) Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE

04(3)-6 PORTMONARCH (IRE) Robert V LaPenta    David Lanigan

  QAHIR (IRE)  H H Sheikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Thani   Freddy Head FR

13-6  RACE AND STATUS (IRE) Jackie & George Smith   Andrew Balding

35211- RESTRAINT OF TRADE (IRE) Godolphin     Mahmood Al Zarooni

  ROYAL FLAG   Godolphin     Saeed bin Suroor

1      RULER OF THE WORLD (IRE) Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE

  SAINT AND SINNER (GER) Gestut Karlshof    Andreas Wohler GER

  SARDINIA (IRE)  Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE

6  SASKATCHEWAN  Wildenstein Stables Limited   Luca Cumani

5  SATWA STORY  Godolphin     Mahmood Al Zarooni

(1)-(1)(3) SECRET NUMBER   Godolphin     Saeed bin Suroor

(1)-  SIR WALTER SCOTT (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE

  SLEEPING GIANT (GER) Wildenstein Stables Limited   Luca Cumani

0-  SMOKE SCREEN  Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE

3-4  SQUIRE OSBALDESTON (IRE) Paul Hickman & G Johns  Sir Henry Cecil

212113- STEELER (IRE)  Godolphin     Mahmood Al Zarooni

  SUGAR TRAIN  Khalid Abdullah     David Smaga FR

010-1  SUPERPLEX (FR)  Stall Eivissa     Michael Figge GER

(2)20(1)-(1) SWING EASY  Mrs B B Mills, J Harley, T Jacobs   Robert Mills

42-31  TABLEAUX (USA)  Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor Andre Fabre FR

(6)-  TAKAATHUR (USA)  Godolphin     Saeed bin Suroor

21-  TARIKHI (USA)  Godolphin     Saeed bin Suroor

4  TEKTITE   Niarchos Family    Jonathan Pease FR

21-  TELESCOPE (IRE)  Highclere Thoroughbred Racing -Wavertree Sir Michael Stoute

114230- THA'IR (IRE)  Godolphin     Saeed bin Suroor

6-(2)  THATCHMASTER (USA) Godolphin     Mahmood Al Zarooni

1-6  THE UNITED STATES (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE

3-  THE VATICAN (IRE) Sue Magnier     Aidan O'Brien IRE

(2)32        THE WELSH WIZARD (IRE) John & Barbara Cotton, Sir Alex Ferguson, J Hanson Charlie Hills

(2)-5  TINGHIR (IRE)  Bjorn Nielsen     David Lanigan

111-1  TORONADO (IRE)  HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Richard Hannon

2115-  TRADING LEATHER (IRE) Jackie Bolger     Jim Bolger IRE

410-  TWILIGHT ZONE (IRE) Derick Smith, Sue Smith & Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE

 112-(1) VAN DER NEER  Saeed Manana    Richard Hannon

23-2  VAYAKHAN (FR)  H H Aga Khan          Alain de Royer Dupre FR

  VICTORY SONG (IRE) Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE

  WAVER (IRE)  Anne Marie O'Brien    Aidan O'Brien IRE

112-  WILLIE THE WHIPPER Qatar Racing Limited    Ann Duffield

40-  WINTERLUDE (IRE) Godolphin     Mahmood Al Zarooni

0-(1)  WOODSTOCK (IRE) Julie Wood     Richard Hannon

64-  ZAIN EAGLE   Asaad Al Banwan    Gerard Butler

21- ZAND (IRE)   H H Aga Khan     John Oxx IRE

122 entries go forward

41 Irish-trained

11 French-trained

2 German-trained

SECOND ENTRIES IN ITALICS

THE FOLLOWING ENTRIES HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED:ASK DAD, BALMORAL MILLS (IRE), CYCLONE, SIR PRANCEALOT (IRE), SPESSARTINE (IRE), WINGED FOOT (IRE)

 

A DOZEN NATIONS COME TOGETHER IN ROYAL ASCOT GROUP ONE ENTRIES

US Trainer Kenny McPeek Keen To Have Runners

Exciting global entries are revealed today for the seven Group One races run this year at Royal Ascot, which takes place from Tuesday, June 18 to Saturday, June 22 inclusive.

The wonderfully cosmopolitan nature of the Royal Meeting, which has record prize money of £5 million in 2013, continues to expand year by year and up to a dozen countries could be represented in the Group One contests this year.

In total, there are 367 Group One entries - up from 344 in 2012 - and the highest figure since 2008.

Further international representation is expected in Royal Ascot's Group Two contests, the entries for which are revealed next week, while American handler Wesley Ward is considering sending a team to contest the two-year-old contests at the meeting.

All the Group One races at Royal Ascot are part of the QIPCO British Champions Series, with the King's Stand Stakes and the Diamond Jubilee Stakes being the first two British legs of the Global Sprint Challenge.

"We are delighted with the number of entries, the range of countries that they represent and the overall quality," said Nick Smith, Head of Communications and International Racing at Ascot.

"The interest from the USA is particularly strong this year, headlined by arguably the highest profile horse in the world in Animal Kingdom. If he were to add a Royal Ascot Group One to victories in the Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup he would cement and enhance his position as an all-time great on the world stage.

"It's particularly good to see Mike De Kock planning to have runners for South Africa after another tremendous Dubai Carnival. It is probably worth noting that there were eight thoroughbred races on the card on Dubai World Cup night - the world's most international race meeting - and seven of them have been entered across the Royal Ascot Group One programme.

"Australia's star act, so long as he comes through the All Aged Stakes on Saturday in good shape, is Black Caviar's half-brother, All Too Hard, and he heads a habitually strong team from there. The Japanese three-year-old A Shin Top has looked special to date and the Hong Kong sprinters are always to be feared, especially having hit the board here with Little Bridge last year.

"In addition we have more familiar European stars to look forward to seeing in June including, hopefully, some of Cirrus Des Aigles, Camelot, St Nicholas Abbey, Moonlight Cloud and Dawn Approach. The three-year-old picture will become clearer after the QIPCO Guineas Meeting, of course."

Day 1 - Tuesday, June 18, 2013

£350,000 QUEEN ANNE STAKES, ONE MILE

The opening race of Royal Ascot, the £350,000 Queen Anne Stakes over the straight mile, has been a highlight of the meeting in the last few years with Goldikova (2010), Canford Cliffs (2011) and Frankel (2012) having taken the honours.

International entries feature prominently with Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup hero ANIMAL KINGDOM (Graham Motion, USA) having the Queen Anne as his primary option along with the 10-furlong Prince of Wales's Stakes on the Wednesday. The five-year-old has arrived in Britain and is based at David Lanigan's yard in Lambourn.

ALL TOO HARD (John Hawkes, Australia), a half-brother to wonder mare Black Caviar, is a three-time Group One winner Down Under and Australia's best seven-furlong/mile performer, having taken the 2012 Caulfield Guineas as well as the Group One Orr Stakes and Group One Futurity Stakes, both over seven furlongs, at the same venue this year. He runs in the All Aged Stakes this Saturday in Sydney and all being well will ship to the UK after that.

South Africa is represented by SOFT FALLING RAIN (Mike de Kock), who was last seen taking the Group Two Godolphin Mile at Meydan on Dubai World Cup night, March 30. He also holds an entry in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.

Europe is also well represented, with six entries from Ireland, three from France and two from Germany.

One of the French-trained trio, DON BOSCO (David Smaga) is owned by screen legend and world-renowned bridge expert Omar Sharif.

£350,000 KING'S STAND STAKES, FIVE FURLONGS

Run over five furlongs, the King's Stand Stakes is the first British leg of the Global Sprint Challenge and has attracted 49 entries.

Australia has taken the King's Stand Stakes four times and the two entries from that country in 2013 are SHAMEXPRESS (Danny O'Brien), winner of the Group One Newmarket Handicap at Flemington on March 9, and SEA SIREN (John O'Shea), successful in the Group One Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley in October, 2012 and runner up to Mental in the Patinack Farm Classic at Flemington the following month.

OVERDOSE (Josef Roszival, Hungary) finished fourth in the 2011 renewal and could return as an eight-year-old, while SHEA SHEA (Mike de Kock, South Africa) was successful in the Group One Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan on Dubai World Cup night and is firmly on course to give that country's most famous trainer a debut Royal Ascot success.

£350,000 ST JAMES'S PALACE STAKES, ONE MILE

The St James's Palace Stakes, worth £100,000 extra this year, is the third Group One on the opening day and has 58 entries.

The £350,000 contest brings together the cream of the three-old colts over the round mile and there are entries from around the world.

Those entries include the Japanese-trained A SHIN TOP (Masato Nishizono), a leading two-year-old in his homeland last year and a Group Two winner last time out at Nakayama on April 6. He runs in the NHK Mile Cup in early May and a good run there will see him book his ticket.

Leading US handler Kenny McPeek could have three runners at Royal Ascot this year, with JAVA'S WAR and WAR DANCER possible starters in the St James's Palace Stakes.

Java's War announced himself as a serious contender for the Kentucky Derby when coming from an unfavourable position to land the Grade One Toyota Blue Grass Stakes on Polytrack by a neck at Keeneland on April 13. The son of War Pass, who made a winning debut on turf in September, had previously chased home Kentucky Derby favourite Verrazano in the Grade Two Tampa Bay Derby on dirt in March.

McPeek revealed: "Java's War has been good since his win in the Blue Grass Stakes and there have been no problems but whether or not he goes to Royal Ascot would depend on how he is running and doing over the next several weeks.

"He ran an excellent race in the Blue Grass and he is a horse who certainly understands what he is supposed to do when he is out there. I would be a little bit concerned that the St James' Palace Stakes will be a little bit too short for him but the way the track is, it plays out a little further and brings stamina into play.

"I think he likes the synthetics but he has run well on everything we have put him on and his pedigree suggests turf. Mr Fipke (the owner) will ultimately decide where we run but I think it is a good option for him.

"He will definitely run in the Kentucky Derby next and his run behind Verrazano is obviously good form because he (Verrazano) is now favourite for the race. The Kentucky Derby is a different race though - at a mile and a quarter - anything can happen."

War Dancer, a son of War Front, has won two of his three starts on turf and scored decisively over a mile and a furlong at Keeneland on April 10.

McPeek continued: "War Dancer was very impressive on his latest start. He got left at the gate but proceeded to win anyway and is a horse with a big future.

"We really like this horse on the grass and I would love to think he could make the St James' Palace Stakes.

"Although he hasn't had a lot of racing, I know he is very talented and we are going to run him in the Grade Two American Turf at Churchill Downs on May 3.

"If he was to win that, I would be really interested to see how he would get on in a race like the St James's Palace."

Owner Ken Ramsey has been a great supporter of Royal Ascot and he could be represented by CHARMING KITTEN (Todd Pletcher, USA), who was third behind Java's War in the Blue Grass Stakes.

Day 2 - Wednesday, June 19, 2013

£500,000 PRINCE OF WALES'S STAKES, 10 FURLONGS

The Prince of Wales's Stakes on day two could well prove to be the one of the races of the meeting with a possible clash between CAMELOT (Aidan O'Brien, Ireland), the 2012 2000 Guineas and Derby winner, and CIRRUS DES AIGLES (Corine Barande-Barbe, France) a strong possibility. Cirrus Des Aigles won the QIPCO Champion Stakes in 2011 and beat all bar the mighty Frankel in the same race last year. He is currently the highest-rated horse in the world.

A total of 40 entries have been received, with multiple Group One scorers ST NICHOLAS ABBEY (Aidan O'Brien, Ireland) and SNOW FAIRY (Ed Dunlop) adding further spice to the mix.

DAY 3 - Thursday, June 20, 2013

£350,000 GOLD CUP, TWO AND A HALF MILES

Always one of the highlights of the meeting, the 54 entries for this year's renewal of the Gold Cup include two of the last three winners in COLOUR VISION (Saeed bin Suroor), the 2012 scorer, and RITE OF PASSAGE (Dermot Weld, Ireland), the winner in 2010 who returned from a long layoff to capture last season's QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot in October.

SIMENON (Willie Mullins, Ireland) was a dual winner at the Royal Meeting in 2012, taking the Ascot Stakes and the Queen Alexandra Stakes.

DAY 4 - Friday, June 21, 2013

£350,000 CORONATION STAKES, ONE MILE

The mile contest for three-year-old fillies has attracted 58 entries for the 2013 renewal after being boosted in value to £350,000 from £250,000.

As well as the usual strong European representation, McPeek could be represented by PURE FUN, who was a top-class two-year-old in the USA last season, annexing the Grade One Hollywood Starlet Stakes on Cushion Track at Hollywood Park in December.

The daughter of Pure Prize was third on her return in the Grade Three Fathead Bourbonette Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in March but found life tougher against the colts in the Grade Three Coolmore Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on April 20, when seventh.

McPeek said: "I wanted to have the Coronation Stakes as an option for Pure Fun. She is owned by a nice group of people and it will depend on how she runs in the Kentucky Oaks.

"She has been competitive on the grass and she has already won a Grade One so to even place in another one would be a big deal.

"There have been excuses for her performances this season. I think she needed the run first time out and then she was in against the colts next time. The original plan was the run in the Honeybee Stakes and then the Fantasy Stakes but things didn't work out.

"We have had a couple of misfires but we are regrouping and I think she is well prepared for the Kentucky Oaks. We feel like we have got her right and she travelled from Keeneland to Churchill yesterday and will train here up until the Oaks."

McPeek is no stranger to having runners at Ascot, having sent over Hard Buck to finish second in the 2004 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, while his most recent runner at the Royal meeting, Casper's Touch, was third in the 2010 Chesham Stakes.

DAY 5 - Saturday, June 22, 2013

£500,000 DIAMOND JUBILEE STAKES, SIX FURLONGS

The six-furlong Diamond Jubilee Stakes often proves to be the most cosmopolitan race of the week and that will almost certainly be the case again in 2013 with no less than eight countries represented entries at entries stage.

Australia's entries include the aforementioned ALL TOO HARD (John Hawkes) SEA SIREN (John O'Shea) and SHAMEXPRESS (Danny O'Brien), while South Africa's two possible challengers are the Mike de Kock-trained duo of SHEA SHEA and SOFT FALLING RAIN.

A brace of entries from the USA could see two new faces have their first runners at Royal Ascot. HANDSOME MIKE (Doug O'Neill) is a versatile performer stateside, with his victories including the nine-furlong Grade Two Pennsylvania Derby and the Grade Three Commonwealth Stakes over seven furlongs at Keeneland. HAVELOCK (Darrin Miller) has been campaigned mostly over six and seven furlongs and was last seen out taking the Shakertown Stakes over an extended five furlongs at Keeneland on April 13.

Raiders from Hong Kong have become a regular feature at Royal Ascot and the two possible challengers this year are LUCKY NINE (Caspar Fownes), a four-time Group One scorer at Sha Tin (runs next in the KrisFlyer in Singapore), and TIME AFTER TIME (John Moore), who was last seen out when second in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup at Sha Tin on March 17.

Bahrain's representative is the well-travelled KRYPTON FACTOR (Fawzi Nass), a close sixth in the 2012 running of the Diamond Jubilee.

A strong European challenge is headed by MOONLIGHT CLOUD (Freddy Head, France), who gave Black Caviar the fright of her life when the fast-finishing head runner-up last year.