Rebel set for Royal Ascot opener
Double Guineas winner Cockney Rebel is one of a potential field of 11 for the St James's Palace Stakes on the opening day of Royal Ascot on Tuesday.
Cockney Rebel is aiming to emulate the brilliant Rock of Gibralter, who won both the English and Irish 2000 Guineas before winning at Royal Ascot.
But the Geoff Huffer-trained colt faces a five-strong challenge from Rock of Gibralter's trainer Aidan O'Brien.
They include French 2000 Guineas winner Astronomer Royal.
The Irish trainer's other four possible runners are Excellent Art, an unlucky fourth in France, Duke Of Marmalade, fourth in the English and Irish Guineas, Archipenko, winner of the Derrinstown Derby Trial, and Sorolla.
The £250,000 St James' Palace Stakes, which is run over a mile, is the opening Group One race of the five-day Royal Ascot meeting.
Dutch Art, from the stable of Derby-winning trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam, was second to Cockney Rebel at Newmarket and could re-oppose his rival at Royal Ascot.
Also lined up for the St James' Palace Stakes is Jim Bolger's Creachadoir, who was second in both the French and Irish Guineas.
David Wachman's He's A Decoy, Brian Meehan's Jack Junior and William Jarvis' impressive Silver Bowl winner Tobosa complete the field.
The other Group One race on the opening day of the Royal Ascot is the Queen Anne Stakes, which sees the eagerly-awaited return to the track of George Washington.
The four-year-old, also trained in Ireland by O'Brien, was sent to stud at the end of last season.
But after suffering fertility problems, his owners decided to resurrect his racing career.
The colt will face a maximum of eight rivals, who could include dual Group One-winning filly Red Evie, victor in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.
James Fanshawe's Cesare, who won the Royal Hunt Cup at the meeting last year, has been supplemented for the race.
Other possible contenders include Sir Michael Stoute's Jeremy, winner of the Jersey Stakes 12 months ago.


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