Red-hot home team face stern test against Newmarket challenger Zabeel Prince

"Green Room" Meld Stakes (Group 3) | 1m1f | 3yo+ | RTV/RTE 2

The Irish team is headed by Ancient Spirit and Patrick Sarsfield, two horses in the form of their lives, but they will need to take it to the next level to repel Newmarket challenger Zabeel Prince.

A winner first time up in each of the past three seasons, Roger Varian's charge goes well fresh and boasts the highest rating in the field of 117, 7lb clear of his nearest rival.

Ancient Spirit has done nothing wrong. Unbeaten in two starts this season for Jessica Harrington, the 2018 German Guineas winner steps back up to a trip over which he is proven.

Patrick Sarsfield: dominant in his last two startsCredit: Caroline Norris

The potential improver in the race is Patrick Sarsfield. He has turned competitive handicaps into a one-horse race the last twice and looks a genuine Group performer in the making.

What they say

Joseph O’Brien, trainer of Patrick Sarsfield
Obviously this is a step up in class for him but we are hoping for a good run. He has met every challenge we have set him and we are hoping he can acquit himself well.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Celtic High King and Fort Myers
Celtic High King has come out of his last race well and we think he has come forward. Fort Myers seems to be in good form since France. The better the ground the better his chances are.

Roger Varian, trainer of Zabeel Prince
He's a seven-year-old but his racing career never really started until he was four and he is training like he retains all his ability and looks exceptionally well. Nine furlongs is a nice trip for him as he won two very strong races over the trip last year. If you look at the horses he beat in the Earl of Sefton at Newmarket that was very strong form and then he won the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan. He gets in here with no penalty and we're looking forward to getting him started. It wasn't necessarily my intention to send him to Ireland first up but San Donato was also in the Summer Mile and I didn't want to run them against one another if I could help it. I do think he'll get an easy ten furlongs but the twice he tried it last year were very stiff tracks at Ascot and in the Eclipse, where he travelled very well and didn't quite see it out.

Members can read the latest exclusive interviews, news analysis and comment available from 6pm daily on racingpost.com