Gleneagles and Solow have been announced as the headline pair from the list of 12 in the five-day confirmations ahead of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot this weekend.
It is believed that Gleneagles' connections are constantly monitoring the ground situations ahead of Saturday's race as any change in the ground may see the 2000 Guineas winner pulled out.
Gleneagles is a colt Aidan O'Brien has been ever so careful with this summer, after the three-year-old was forced to miss out on a host of races following his St.James's Palace Stakes victory at Royal Ascot back in June.
O'Brien and the whole team are hopeful that once again the weather won't get in the way, but they are keeping a sharp pair of eyes over any changes.
“He's in very good form and obviously it's all eyes on the weather,” said Coolmore UK's Kevin Buckley. “He'll do another little piece of work in the week – we have our fingers crossed.
“There is very little drying going on at Ascot but we hope he shows up.”
Solow has been in incredible form, with the French star emerging victorious in his last eight contests, of which two were the Queen Anne Stakes and Sussex Stakes. In today's horse racing market, Solow is heavy favourite at 10/11 (with Betway) at the moment just ahead of Gleneagles.
While the battle between Gleneagles and Solow is sure to be one occupying Aidan O'Brien's mind this week, the Irish maestro has some interesting types coming in at the Curragh.
O'Brien will have high hopes for Idaho, with his son Joseph doing the riding, in the 3.35 and the full brother to Highland Reel – himself a Group 1 winner – has been well backed.
Joining Idaho in the 3.35 is O'Brien's other runner Immortal Bridge, who connections hope will have learned from his first outing last month when he finished a very disappointing 14th from 16.
Joseph O'Brien is also up on Los Barbados in the 4.35 for his father, and the 11-4 shot is another well fancied runner for the stable.
In the last race of the day at the Curragh, before their big engagements at the weekend, Aidan O'Brien will hope his daughter Ana can do the business on Along The Shore in the 5.05.
