The victories of Aidan O'Brien's trio of Henrythenavigator, Duke of Marmalade and Yeats in the Gold Cup, lit up the opening three days.

While there are some nice fillies in the line-up for the Group 1 Coronation Stakes, none of them have the same apparent star quality as the likes of Banks Hill, Russian Rhythm and the brilliant Attraction, who have all triumped in the event in recent years.

It was good to see classic form enhanced when Michita, who failed to act on the course in the Oaks at Epsom, powered home in the Ribblesdale Stakes yesterday.

Today's big fillies' event has attracted many who contested the classics at Newmarket, the Curragh and Longchamp.

Mark Johnston, who trained Attraction throughout her magnificent career, has had more than a stroke of good fortune by acquiring Nahoodh from Mick Channon's yard.

She was regarded as very unlucky in running behind Natagora in the Guineas at Newmarket and was sent off favourite to gain compensation at the Curragh.

Unfortunately, she ran poorly which probably hastened her switch to Middleham and a change of scenery may be just what is required.

Newmarket runner-up Spacious and fourth-placed Infallible renew their fierce rivalry along with Lush Lashes, who went on to success by landing the Musidora at York before failing to last out the trip in the Oaks.

French raider Modern Look has managed to land a Group 2 trip at Chantilly since her fourth behind the brilliant Zarkava in the French 1000 Guineas, although she may require softer ground in order to show her best.

Nahoodh will need to put her Curragh woes behind her but there is optimism at Middleham that they have another star filly on their hands and, hopefully, she can return to the form she showed previously at Newmarket.

The Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes is normally seen as a consolation race for horses that have run well in the Derby but, because of its proximity in terms of time to Epsom, there are no Derby runners performing in today's event.

In fact, there is a lacklustre feel to the race, which could even go to a horse having his first start in a pattern race.

Bronze Cannon has been racing in handicaps and this is a massive step up in grade, but his victory over Doctor Fremantle at Newmarket in April was given a massive boost by the runner-up in the Derby and he gets the vote for the in-form John Gosden and Jimmy Fortune.

Johnston has two entries in the Queen's Vase, a race he
usually does well in.

Although both Age Of Reason and Captain Webb will be primed to produce top form and run the race of their lives, they may be playing for places behind Patkai.

Sir Michael Stoute's colt undoubtedly needs a stamina test and looked a very progressive colt when landing some nice bets when out at Haydock last time.