Get ready for a clash of the titans in vintage Juddmonte International

Get ready for an explosive start to the four-day Ebor festival on Wednesday with some of Flat racing's biggest names standing their ground for the feature races on day one. Here we pick out three narratives worth getting excited about

Clash of the titans in the Juddmonte International

The winners of the 2,000 Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes and Coral-Eclipse are on a collision course for what is shaping up to be a vintage edition of the £1 million Group 1.

Guineas hero Churchill has to bounce back from a below-par effort at Royal Ascot, where Barney Roy gained his revenge in the St James’s Palace and the pair are set to meet for a third time on Wednesday.

Joining them will be Eclipse hero Ulysses, who edged out Barney Roy by a pixel at Sandown and has since finished second to leading lady Enable in the King George.

Three high-class colts all looking to establish themselves among the best middle-distance performers in Europe, and this race will go a fair way to shaping the pecking order. Bring it on!

Can Cracksman put the record straight in the Voltigeur?

Cracksman has already been ruled out of the William Hill St Leger but that does not stop him being one of the the biggest stars heading to Wednesday’s Betway Great Voltigeur Stakes.

Third in the Derby at Epsom and second in the Irish equivalent, he would not look out of place in the Juddmonte International but sticks with his own age group in the Group 2 contest.

Having led at the furlong marker at Epsom, tactics were changed at the Curragh, where he rocketed home to finish a close runner-up. Given a little more luck in running, it is not fantasy to believe he could possibly be a dual Classic winner by now.

No shortage of St Leger clues on offer

Cracksman might not be heading to Doncaster in September but the Voltigeur has often proved the key trial to the final Classic of the season and, judging by the entries, it looks sure to have a major bearing on the St Leger market once more.

Aidan O’Brien has no fewer than seven of the 17 remaining entries, including Irish Derby hero Capri, who looks a typical Leger candidate with his bottomless stamina.

However, he does not have that much in hand over stablemates Douglas Macarthur and Venice Beach, who both look credible Leger contenders in their own right at this stage.

Capri (grey) and Cracksman (red cap) will renew their Irish Derby rivalry in the Great VoltigeurCredit: Caroline Norris

Throw into the mix the unexposed Mirage Dancer, proven stayer Raheen House and Royal Ascot scorer Atty Persse and the Voltigeur could be every bit as tasty as the Leger itself.

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