Battaash is 4/6 favourite with Sky Bet after 18 confirmations were made for the Coolmore Nunthorpe at York on Friday.
Battaash 4/6 as 18 stand ground
The Charlie Hills-trained speedball bounced back from defeat at Royal Ascot with a stunning display in the King George Stakes at Goodwood earlier this month and he is a hot favourite to claim next week's Group One feature.
Charlie Appleby's Blue Point was Battaash's conqueror in the King's Stand at the Royal meeting in June and looks set to take him on again. He is 9/2 second favourite.
Aidan O'Brien has whittled his potential team down to three, with Battle Of Jericho, Declarationofpeace and Sioux Nation all confirmed.
Karl Burke's Havana Grey, Michael Appleby's Caspian Prince and the Michael Dods-trained Mabs Cross finished first, second and third in the Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh last month and are all in the mix for York.
Other contenders include the possible French raider Finsbury Square and Julie Camacho's stable star Judicial, who has won his last two starts.
11 ready to oppose Stradivarius
Stradivarius will face a maximum of 11 rivals in the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup at York on Friday.
John Gosden's charge is the undoubted star of the staying division having already landed the Yorkshire Cup, the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and the Goodwood Cup this season and he will land a cool £1million bonus if he can add to his tally on his return to the Knavesmire next week.
With Goodwood Cup runner-up Torcedor not in contention after being sold to continue his career in Germany last week, Stradivarius would appear to face a relatively straightforward task.
His potential rivals include Ed Dunlop's consistent performer Red Verdon, the William Haggas-trained Dal Harraild and Desert Skyline from David Elsworth's yard.
Aidan O'Brien's sole contender is Idaho, while his compatriot Willie Mullins has three entries in Laws Of Spin, Max Dynamite and Thomas Hobson.
Sweet 16 for Gimcrack
A total of 16 juveniles remain in the mix for the Al Basti Equiworld Gimcrack Stakes on the same card.
O'Brien has confirmed Van Beethoven, Land Force and The Irish Rover, while likely contenders for the home team include John Gosden's Legends Of War, the Richard Hannon-trained Masaru, Richard Fahey's unbeaten colt Space Traveller and Yousini from Kevin Ryan's yard.
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