A large and strong entry of 28, including the winner and third and fourth-placed runners in the Vodacom Durban July, has been received for the R500 000 Grade 1 Champions Cup to be run over 1 800 metres on All Stars Day at Clairwood Racecourse on July 30.

Mike Bass’s Dunford, who ran a great race to get up and beat Silverpoint for the country’s most prestigious honour, will find the Clairwood contest very much to his liking and has a strong chance of pulling off the double.

Eventuail, who stormed up under top weight to run a tremendous third for trainer Geoff Woodruff, could be more effective up the longer Clairwood straight and Reveille Boy’s good run on Saturday will stand him in good stead for a share of the stake as well.

Among the entries, however, are a number of very talented runners including Sean Tarry’s Alastor who ran second in this race last year and finished seventh in Saturday’s race and Mike de Kock’s Chamonix who flew up to win the South African Airways 2200 on Saturday and the Cup Trial the time before.

Dianne Stenger’s Jamaica, who was touched off in the closing strides by Lyrical Linda in the Garden Province Stakes is also among the entries along with De Kock’s Sabina Park who was fourth in that race.

Mike Azzie has entered Night Watch who made the running in the Vodacom Durban July before fading to finish ninth.

This should trim down to a highly competitive field and with the different venue and shorter distance, the Vodacom Durban July result might not be repeated here.