Excellent Art can lay down serious claims for the title of top miler with victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.

The three-year-old is already a winner over course and distance this term and it speaks volumes of his ability that the Coolmore team feel confident enough to leave out stablemate George Washington in favour of this colt.

Trained by Neville Callaghan last year, Excellent Art switched to the care of Aidan O'Brien over the winter and endured a luckless run in the French 2000 Guineas on his Ballydoyle debut.

He made amends for that defeat when lifting the St James's Palace Stakes at the Royal meeting, form which still appears reasonably strong at this stage.

Excellent Art found the situation working against him in the Sussex Stakes last time and he lost little in finishing a head behind Ramonti after being stuck on the inside.

The son of Pivotal was getting 7lb that day and his advantage is almost halved this time, but while Ramonti has been flying the Godolphin flag admirably, Excellent Art has been given a light campaign and arrives here fresh.

Connections of Kotsi paid a sizeable sum earlier in the week to add her to the Meon Valley Stud Fillies' Mile line-up and she can repay that faith.

Ed Vaughan's runner was a winner on her racecourse bow before stepping up in class to tackle the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster.

She lost little in defeat that day and will once again relish every yard of this mile trip.

Utmost Respect deserves just that in the totesport.com Challenge Cup following a facile victory in the Silver Cup at Ayr last week.

Richard Fahey's runner absolutely sailed home in the consolation event after missing out on the Gold Cup itself and further compensation surely awaits.

Kings Brook can repeat his victory of last year in the bluesqcasino.com Handicap Chase at Market Rasen.

Nick Gifford's charge took a fair Newton Abbot contest on the way to success last term and connections are following the same route once more.

With the first leg already in the bag, it would be no surprise to see Kings Brook feature heavily in the big prize again.

Balthazaar's Gift complete his renaissance with victory in Sunday's John Guest Diadem Stakes at Ascot.

The son of Xaar has always possessed plenty of talent but since his move to Bedford House stables, Luca Cumani appears to have harnessed that ability and turned him into a high-quality speedster.

He has been set some stiff assignments in two of the most competitive handicaps of the season, but his third in the Wokingham at the Royal meeting under the steadier of 9st 10lb served notice that he could ply his trade at a higher level.

That view was underlined when he returned to beat Al Qasi in the Group Three Hackwood Stakes.

However, he saved his best performance for Haydock on his most recent outing. Against some of the quickest around, he stormed home to fill third spot in the Betfred Sprint Cup, with July Cup hero Sakhee's Secret behind him.

Connections opted to swerve a crack at the Ayr Gold Cup to wait for this Group Two prize and, if Balthazaar's Gift is in the same form he was on Merseyside, he will take all the beating.

Ask's season has been interrupted by a series of niggling setbacks but he can begin to make up for lost time in the Grosvenor Casinos Cumberland Lodge Stakes.

Last year's St Leger fourth looked one to follow when accounting for subsequent Coronation Cup winner Scorpion in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester before injury intervened.

He is reported to be back to full health now and if the glowing reports from his work at Freemason Lodge are a reliable indication, he will certainly make his presence felt.

Another Stoute inmate who has been beset by problems is Distinction, but he can capitalise on having his sights lowered in the SIS Fenwolf Stakes