Excelebration: made an impressive debut for Aidan O'Brien last month
PICTURE: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)Excelebration all set for Frankel battle - O'Brien
TRAINER Aidan O'Brien said on Friday that Excelebration is all set to take on Frankel for a fourth time with the pair due to clash in the JLT Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.
Excelebration, as short as 5-2 with William Hill for the Group 1 contest, finished behind Frankel on three occasions last season when he was trained by Marco Botti but he looked in rude health when scoring on his debut for O'Brien last month.
The trainer is relishing the battle and said: "Everyone knows how good Frankel is and we're delighted we have a horse good enough to compete against him.
"Marco Botti did a very good job with Excelebration last year and now the horse is a year older and is stronger we're looking forward to letting him take his chance.
"We were delighted with the way he won the Gladness Stakeslast month. He was very relaxed and quickened up really well. He's been fine since and is all set."
O'Brien will also run last time out winner Windsor Palace in Saturday's race.
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