Aidan O'Brien confirms Monarch Of Egypt for Middle Park in race of the season

The Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes received yet another boost on Wednesday when Aidan O'Brien revealed Monarch Of Egypt and Lope Y Fernandez would be taking on the big four of Earthlight, Mums Tipple, Siskin and Threat in what is shaping up to be a spectacular Saturday showdown at Newmarket.

Monarch Of Egypt has been runner-up to Siskin on his last two starts, but O'Brien believes the American Pharoah colt is progressing all the time following a summer setback which ruled him out of Royal Ascot.

Middle Park card

O'Brien said: "We are very happy with Monarch Of Egypt and the Middle Park is the plan. He had a setback earlier in the summer and he's been progressing since then. We've been happy with his progression and he seems in very good form.

"He seems to handle all sorts of ground but he is a fast horse, so the better the ground, the better he will like it."

Lope Y Fernandez: will join Monarch Of Egypt in Middle Park line-upCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Lope Y Fernandez bumped into Pinatubo in the Chesham at Royal Ascot and again in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood, but he revelled in the absence of the Godolphin superstar in a Group 3 at the Curragh last time when scooting clear of Guildsman.

"I thought Lope Y Fernandez looked very happy back at six when winning at the Curragh. He seemed to really enjoy himself over that trip and we're going to let him take his chance in the Middle Park along with Monarch Of Egypt," the trainer said.

Monarch Of Egypt is a top-priced 9-1 with Paddy Power, who make Earthlight their 7-4 favourite. Lope Y Fernandez is priced between 10-1 and 16-1.

O'Brien has won the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes six times, including 12 months ago with Mohawk, and it will be Year Of The Tiger – who is out of Group 1 winner Tiggy Wiggy – rather than Armory who will spearhead his challenge on Saturday.

"Armory probably won't run, but Year Of The Tiger will. He won his maiden nicely at Naas and was under the weather on his last visit to Newmarket. He wasn't himself at all there and we think he's back in good form now," the trainer said.

Fairyland did the business for O'Brien in last year's Cheveley Park Stakes, but the trainer does not appear to have an outstanding candidate to follow in her footsteps.

"I'm not 100 per cent sure who we'll run in the Cheveley Park yet. We have a few in there and Tango is definitely a possible for the race at this stage," O'Brien added.

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