Candelari (Ire)

Aidan O'Brien will seek a 10th Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on Thursday, with his prospects whittled down to just Illinois (Galileo) in the meeting's prestige feature. Last year's G2 Queen's Vase winner will take on the Aga Khan Studs representative Candelari (Frankel) from the Francis-Henri Graffard stable and that G1 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier winner is like him a newcomer to these Cup races. Old stagers Trawlerman (Golden Horn) and Sweet William (Sea The Stars) are back again, while the All-Weather Championships Marathon Handicap winner Wonder Legend (Sea The Stars)...

Francis Graffard trainee Candelari (Frankel) charted an unusual route to Sunday's G1 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier at ParisLongchamp and bounced back in style, with Clement Lecoeuvre replacing the suspended Mickael Barzalona in the saddle, after suffering a first reversal in last month's G3 Prix Barbeville. Not only exacting revenge on his Barbeville conquerors Presage Nocturne (Wootton Bassett) and Internaute (Sea The Stars) here, he also put a veritable who's-who of the stayer's division to the sword with a dominant display in this newly elevated 15 1/2-furlong marathon. He had previously collected...