INDESATCHEL (3.45) possesses the sort of rock-solid credentials required to win the sought-after and highly prestigious St James's Palace Stakes.

Although nine runners have been declared for the Royal Ascot at York one-mile feature, Sheikh Mohammed's spokesman, Simon Crisford, has revealed that they expect Dubawi to be their only participant, which means Godolphin's other entry, Sharmardal, will almost certainly be withdrawn this morning.

As the ante-post exchanges suggest, it's a tight-knit renewal of the £225,000 Group 1 encounter with market leaders, Indesatchel and Dubawi, vying for favouritism.

The two leading contenders took separate routes this spring, Dubawi flopping in the English 2000 Guineas, prior to bouncing back in no uncertain terms to claim the Irish equivalent in scintillating style.

Indesatchel's trainer, the indefatigable David Wachman, opted to trial his colt in the Tetrarch Stakes at Curragh, a race he won with ludicrous ease by six lengths, before showing up in the French Guineas.

Over at Longchamp Wachman's shooting star was unlucky to run up against a colt of Sharmardal's quality, Frankie Dettori's mount just getting the better of Indesatchel by an ever-diminishing head.

Attempting to analyse the respective merits of the Irish and French Guineas form isn't simple, however when Mark Johnston trained Sharmardal, he and the two jockeys to ride him in public, Joe Fanning and Kevin Darley, all thought the son of Giant's Causeway was "very special".

Sadly for the Middleham firm, that's history since as he was fully entitled, Shamardal's owner, Sheikh Mohammed, exercised his option in footballing parlance of a free transfer, and shifted the horse to Godolphin's Saeed Bin Suroor's yard.

By a process of deduction, it's not hard to work out that Indesatchel must be an exceptional racehorse to get within sniffing distance of Shamardal in France. And any doubters were surely silenced when he added the French Derby to his roll of honour, confirming the informed opinions of Messrs Johnston, Darley and Fanning.

"David has been pleased with Indesatchel's progress following the French Guineas and hopefully he will run a big race," reports regular rider Jamie Spencer, who due to Frankie Dettori's suspension will instead lock horns with the number two for the boys in blue, Aussie ace, Kerrin McEvoy.

In yesterday's five-day preview for the meeting I tipped up Celtic Mill (3.05) as an each-way bet in the King's Stand Stakes.

Admittedly it was a bit of gamble because the draw details were unavailable at the time. Thankfully David Barker's charge is scheduled to emerge from stall 12, which isn't too bad as the action normally takes place up the centre of the track, which means those berthed either extremely low, or very high, are at a distinct disadvantage.

The inclement forecast is also excellent news for another of the ten-to-follow selections, King Revo (4.55), whose chance would be massively enhanced if the predicted rainfall softens up the ground for the Ascot Stakes.

Patrick Haslam's stayer, a multiple scorer in testing conditions over hurdles, made a promising return to the level when seventh in the Chester Cup.

King Revo's got three lengths to make up on the second home in that contest, Swift Sailor, but it's well worth bearing in mind that Haslam's raider made eye-catching late headway from a country mile back.

Mick Channon's two-year-olds are invariably of interest at the Royal meeting, so it would be plain folly to ignore Championship Point (5.30) in the closing Chesham Stakes.

Channon's representative only just scraped home on his Newbury six-furlong debut, none the less the grinding manner of the win gave hint he would be a totally different proposition with today's longer distance in his favour.

* Kieren Fallon will be reunited with crack Irish filly Damson in the Coronation Stakes on Friday. Fallon had been expected to take the ride aboard Aidan O'Brien's 1000 Guineas winner Virginia Waters, but he will instead partner David Wachman's daughter of Entrepreneur.

''Kieren Fallon rides her and he sat up on her last week,'' said Wachman.

The jockey's association with the filly has come about through his Coolmore retainer, as both horses are owned by Sue Magnier and Michael Tabor.

Virginia Waters will now be ridden by Johnny Murtagh.

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