Rouget pencils in York Stakes for Almanzor comeback

Last season's European Horse of the Year Almanzor is on course to make his comeback in the the Sky Bet York Stakes on July 29.

A winner of three Group 1s in 2016, Almanzor has been off the track since landing the Champion Stakes last October owing to the EHV-1 virus which struck the barn in which he was housed at Jean-Claude Rouget's base in Pau at the beginning of April.

The Rouget's runners who have resumed have performed well, with Taareef and Zelzal dominating a Group 2 at Chantilly this month and Neguev a close-up third in the Group 3 Prix Daphnis at Maisons-Laffitte on Wednesday.

Rouget said afterwards that the York Group 2 remained the plan for Almanzor's comeback run, with the Juddmonte International, at the same course on August 23, to follow assuming all went well.

"That's still where I expect to go [with him] and, for now at least, all has gone according to plan," said Rouget about Almanzor, the top-priced 5-1 favourite for the Juddmonte ahead of Highland Reel, Cliffs Of Moher, Barney Roy and Churchill.

A top-class set of entries for the Qatar Goodwood Festival, better known as Glorious Goodwood, were also revealed on Wednesday, with the newly elevated Group 1 Goodwood Cup the central attraction.

Coral make Ascot runner-up Order Of St George 15-8 favourite to earn his revenge over Ascot Gold Cup conqueror Big Orange, who the firm have made 2-1 to complete a hat-trick in the race. French challenger Vazirabad is next best at 6-1.