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Titans clash at York
A mouth-watering renewal of the Juddmonte International could be in prospect after both New Approach and Duke Of Marmalade stood their ground.
Jim Bolger's Vodafone Derby hero and Aidan O'Brien's Duke Of Marmalade, seeking a fifth Group One success this season, are among 16 horses to feature at the confirmation stage for the showpiece race on the opening day of York's Ebor meeting.
Bolger reported both New Approach, also a runner-up in the English and Irish 2000 Guineas, and his other possible Lush Lashes to be in good heart but no plans have been made yet.
"We haven't firmed anything up yet and I haven't looked at the entries for the race. It will be the weekend before we make a decision," said the County Carlow trainer.
New Approach has the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes as another option while Lush Lashes, an extraordinary hard-luck story in the Nassau Stakes, is also entered in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks next week.
Duke Of Marmalade was only fourth in this race 12 months ago but has been a revelation this term with victories in the Prix Ganay, Tattersalls Gold Cup, Prince of Wales's Stakes and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
O'Brien has also left in Red Rock Canyon, King Of Rome and Zulu Chief.
Phoenix Tower, runner-up to Duke Of Marmalade at Royal Ascot, is ready to do battle again after finishing second to another O'Brien inmate Mount Nelson in the Coral-Eclipse.
"He's in very good form and worked very well yesterday," said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah.
The four-year-old's trainer Henry Cecil could also saddle Multidimensional, while Sir Michael Stoute is double-handed with recent German Group One victor Linngari and Rob Roy, as is Mick Channon, who can choose from Championship Point and Halicarnassus.
The acceptors are completed by Pipedreamer, Bankable, Cat Junior and Stubbs Art.
The going at York was described as soft, good to soft in places following dry conditions on Wednesday. Sunshine and showers are predicted for Thursday and Friday.
Patkai, ante-post favourite for the Ladbrokes St Leger, heads 16 possibles for the Great Voltigeur Stakes following the confirmation stage.
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt successfully graduated from handicap company to Group class with victory in the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot.
He is 5-2 with the sponsors for the final Classic of the season at Doncaster next month and could try to boost his claims in York's Group Two on Tuesday. Stoute had also hoped to run Derby fourth Doctor Fremantle, but he was not confirmed after being found to have suffered a bruised foot.
Aidan O'Brien is responsible for 10 of the acceptors led by Alessandro Volta, while Godolphin have just one entry, Meydan City, supplemented at a cost of 13,500.
John Gosden, who saddled Lucarno to take this prize 12 months ago before going on to win the Leger itself, relies on Centennial while Savarain, Scintillo and Top Lock make up the list.
Andrew Balding is hoping Top Lock can book his place at Doncaster with a bold show at York. "Top Lock's intended target is the Great Voltigeur and then we'll make a decision about the St Leger after that race," he said. "He didn't run last year but he's been making up for lost time this year, running very consistently. He ran a good race at Hamburg in the German Derby last time out and he has come out of the race well. He has had a little bit of a break since his trip to Germany but he's in good order."
"Top Lock is very versatile in terms of ground. He handled the softer ground well in Germany."
Top Lock is generally available at 33-1 for the Leger.
TODAY'S BEST
DUKE'S DOUBLE
Miss Rochester (3.40 Salisbury), nap and Miss Sophisticat (2.50 Sandown).
DUKE'S TREBLE
Miss Rochester, Miss Sophisticat and Suede (7.30 Great Leighs).
JULIUS'S DOUBLE
General Ting (6.30 Great Leighs), nap and Redford (4.15 Salisbury).
FORMNAP
Laa Rayb (4.15 Salisbury).
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -2 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
