Comfy was a high class two year old who won the Acomb Stakes. The colt also ran fifth in the Dewhurst beaten by the likes of Rock Of Gibraltar, Landseer and Where or When. Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, last successful in this race with Medicean two years ago, he will be ridden by Richard Hughes. He won his sole start, a conditions race at Leicester this year. It was his first run in over a year. Comfy has not started since that race in May, where defeated the smart Common World. The son of Lear Fan hails from the family of dual Pacific Classic winner Skimming and English 1000 Guineas winner, Wince.

Falbrav won the Prix d’Isaphan two starts back, beating top filly Bright Sky, before running fifth in the Prince of Wales Stakes where he was beaten over seven lengths by Nayef. He was also beaten by the likes of Islington and Olden Times, both of whom reoppose him here.The son of Fairy King won last year’s Japan Cup previously. Ridden by Daryll Holland, the entire is trained by Luca Cumani.

Grandera is a multiple Group 1 winner in Singapore, Ireland and Britain. He was unplaced behind Nayef at Ascot last time when second favourite. The son of Grand Lodge will be ridden by Frankie Detttori, who is having a rather subdued season by his standards. The Godolphin trained horse looks the stable elect. He has won once from his three previous starts this year, when defeating Grundlefoot in Dubai. He has often been described as 'quirky' and 'unreliable'.

Izdiham is one of the best bred horses in the field. A son of Nashwan, he is out 1995 English 1000 Guineas heroine, Harayir. A horse who has shown much promise, he has yet to win at group level. Last start saw him finish fourth in the group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes when beaten by two lengths by Sights on Gold. Previously Izdiham ran fourth in the Gordon Richards Stakes behind classy Indian Creek.

Trained by Marcus Tregonig, also responsible for likely favourite, Nayef, he will be ridden by Willie Supple.

Kaieteur was a Group 1 winner last year. The Marlin colt won in Germany over a mile and a half. He was sixth recently behind Nayef, beaten around nine lengths. Trained by Brian Meehan, the four year old previously ran seven lengths off in the Prix Ganay.

Narrative was a Group 2 winner in Dubai for Godolphin. The son of Sadler’s Wells has been used as a pacemaker for more fancied stable companions and looks likely to do the same here. His last start saw him finish third to Black Sam Bellamy in the Tattersalls Gold Cup when beaten nine lengths by the winner. His only other start this year saw him beaten over six lengths by Highest, runner up in the Coronation Cup.

Nayef, a four time Group 1 winner and likely favourite. A comfortable winner of the Prince of Wales Stakes the son of Gulch has been the model of consistency over the last three seasons. Following a unplaced run in the English 2000 Guineas Nayef has done little wrong. A third in the Dubai World Cup saw him come out to defeat a high class field at Ascot. A win here would see the five year old outdo his illustrious half brother, Nashwan, in the number of group 1 wins.

Olden Times is a high class colt, who has had an interrupted career at times due to injury. The John Dunlop trained colt won the Prix Jean Prat at three and this season won the Earl of Sefton at his first start. Subsequently third in the Lockinge behind Hawk Wing, he was fourth in the Prince of Wales Stakes beaten just over four lengths by Nayef and a length by Islington.

A son of Darshaan, Olden Times is out of the speedy Garah, and is bred like Mark of Esteem and Dilshaan in that his dam is a daughter of ill fated sprint star, Ajdal.

Islington ran a cracker on her four year debut when third to Nayef and Rakti in the Prince of Wales Stakes. The Sadler’s Wells filly was a multiple Group 1 winner last year, her wins coming in the Nassau Stakes and Yorkshire Oaks. She was also fifth in the Arc behind Marienbard, Sulamani and High Chaparral. Kieran Fallon has opted for her instead of Falbrav. She is looking to become the third filly to win the Eclipse Stakes.

Victory Moon was impressive in Dubai when winning both the UAE Guineas and Derby. The son of AL Mufti was unplaced on his British debut, after he pulled too hard early in the race. He will be ridden by Wayne Smith, who won the Derby on him. Trained by Mike de Kock, Victory Moon will be looking to provide the Southern Africa breeding industry with another boost, following the ongoing success of Ipi Tombe.

Balestrini will be looking to give Aiden O’Brien his second Eclipse win, following Giant’s Causeway’s win in 2000. The Danehill colt beat subsequent Irish Derby hero in the Desmond Stakes as well as stable mate Alberto Giacometti. Following a fourth place in the Prix Lupin behind French Derby winner Dalakhani, the colt ran three lengths behind Kris Kin in the Epsom Derby when fifth. George Duffield, who won on Giant’s Causeway, takes the ride. A half brother to Second Empire, the colt’s damsire is 1980 winner, Ela-Mana-Mou.

Delsarte represents the red hot Mark Johnston stable. The son of Theatrical ran second in the King Edward VII behind the smart High Accolade. He also won the listed Newmarket Stakes on his second career start. He has won two of three starts. He will be ridden by Keith Dalgleish.

Dutch Gold ran a good race in the Epsom Derby when sixth, just over seven lengths off Kris Kin. The son of Lahib won the Chester Vase earlier in the season. He is trained by Clive Brittain, like his champion half sister, Crimplene. The colt will be ridden by Philip Robinson.

Hold That Tiger was last season’s Cartier Champion two year old colt. He won the Grand Criterium impressively, defeating the high class Le Vie Dei Colori and ran third to Vindication in the Breeders Cup Juvenile. Made favourite for the English 2000 Guineas, the son of Storm Cat was very disappointing when running unplaced. He then ran fourth in the St James Palace Stakes behind Zafeen and Kalaman. Michael Kinane chose him over Balestrini. He is also trained at Ballydoyle.

Norse Dancer has looked good in both his runs this year. The son of Halling ran third in the English 2000 Guineas at 100-1 behind Refuse to Bend and Zafeen. He then ran fourth at Epsom, coming from a long way off the pace. Three year olds have a good record in the race and he should go close under Richard Quinn. Trained by David Elsworth he will be bidding to follow in his sire’s footsteps, Halling winning it twice for good measure.

SELECTION

Norse Dancer ran Zafeen two a head when third in the English 2000 Guineas. Zafeen subsequently franked the form by winning the Gr 1 St James' Palace Stakes. As a young improving colt, he could well be the horse to upset a field of highly accomplished Gr 1 winners.

Nayef is favourite and justly so. He will be hard to beat.

Islington was third to Nayef in the Prince of Wales' Stakes, beaten three-and-a-half lengths. Nayef was having his second start of the season whilst this grand filly may have needed a race. It was her first of the season.

The hard going at Ascot may have been the undoing of Grandera in the Prince of Wales' Stakes, when beaten 12 lengths by Nayef. Dettori had reported that the horse was working extremely well before that race, and this multiple Gp1 winner is another who deserves the utmost respect.

Balestrini is another progressive colt who could strike a blow for the current crop of three-year-olds.

Hold That Tiger's two-year-old form suggests that he could be better than both his 2000 Guineas and St James' Palace Stakes runs.

click here for Prince of Wales' Stakes 2003 result

In selecting Norse Dancer to beat Islington and Nayef, I'm fully aware that both horses will need to improve dramatically on their current form.