Classic hero in great shape in bid to give O'Brien fifth winner

The Gurkha, the Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero and one of two Irish-trained contenders for today's battle of the Guineas winners, will be attempting to give trainer Aidan O'Brien a fifth victory in the Sussex Stakes.

Giant's Causeway, Rock Of Gibraltar, Henrythenavigator and, most recently, Rip Van Winkle in 2009, a quartet of big-name performers, all won the Group 1 event for Ballydoyle.

So The Gurkha will be bidding to join exalted company as he chases a second Group 1 having finished second in the Coral-Eclipse, in which he lost out to Hawkbill by half a length, on his most recent start.