Native ready to make life difficult

Stoute’s charge, who won the prestigious race at Haydock 12 months ago, heads the 15 acceptors for the Group Two event.

Last year’s Nunthorpe winner Sole Power is the sole Irish representative while Robin Bastiman’s veteran Borderlescott, Bryan Smart’s recent Newmarket winner Tangerine Trees and Richard Fahey’s filly Rose Blossom add further strength.

John Quinn could give last year’s speedy juvenile New Planet his first run of the campaign.

n Richard Hannon’s Dubawi Gold has been installed as the early favourite for Saturday’s Irish 2000 Guineas with a number of colts dropping out of the reckoning for the Curragh Classic.

The runner-up to Frankel in the Newmarket equivalent was supplemented for the race by owner Andrew Tinkler.

Notable absentees include Jessie Harrington’s Pitchfork and Dream Ahead – a Group One winner last autumn for in-form jockey William Buick.

The David Simcock-trained colt needs good ground, or easier, and will now be held back for the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

n Henry Cecil’s Picture Editor, a winner at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting, puts his Epsom Derby credentials on the line at Goodwood tomorrow.

He heads a list of five entries for the IBA Cocked Hat Stakes, a contest which was won last year by subsequent Derby third Rewilding.

Rivals include John Gosden’s possible Derby contender Masked Marvel and Godolphin’s Badeel.

n To celebrate Catterick’s new evening fixture this Friday, and the revamped facilities in the Course Enclosure, there will be free admission into that enclosure.

The first 100 racegoers into the enclosure will also receive a free Tote betting voucher.

Former world champion boxer Charles Shepherd will also be demonstrating his ring prowess to punters.