Rival says Frankel 'just has to turn up to win'

Henry Cecil's magnificent colt Frankel is unbeaten in five starts and is poised to be sent off the shortest-price favourite for 40 years for the first Classic of the season.

Aidan O'Brien's duo of Alexander Pope and Master Of Hounds were the two withdrawals at the final declaration stage. Ballydoyle's sole representative is now Roderic O'Connor, second to Frankel in the Dewhurst and winner of the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud on his final start as a juvenile. He will be ridden for the first time by Ryan Moore.

The other leading protagonists have happily stood their ground, including Craven Stakes winner Native Khan and Irish challenger Pathfork.

Godolphin have given the go-ahead for Racing Post Trophy winner Casamento (Frankie Dettori), with Saamidd (Mickael Barzalona) also set to cut loose for Sheikh Mohammed's powerful operation.

The unbeaten Fury, trained by William Haggas and owned by Cheveley Park Stud, remains in the shake-up.

Dubawi Gold has been much garlanded by Richard Hannon and takes his chance, as does the Barry Hills-trained Rerouted, who runs in the same Khalid Abdullah-owned silks as Frankel.

The twice-raced Loving Spirit is also a contender for local trainer James Toller.

Slim Shadey, Broox and Happy Today will be the likely outsiders vying for Classic honours.

Richard Hannon junior feels Frankel just has to turn up to win the Classic, despite Dubawi Gold looking much improved this season. "We're all fighting out for the places by the looks of things but he's (Dubawi Gold) a horse who's done nothing wrong this year," said Hannon. "He's improved all the time and he's settling much better now. We didn't originally think he was going to get a mile because he didn't settle. He's a very talented horse and if things go right for him hopefully he can run into the four.

"I think Frankel just has to turn up to win. He's looked extremely good so far and, as Henry Cecil said, he's been trained for the Guineas and not the Greenham. I don't see anything there to beat him and I don't see anything there to race him to be honest."

Moving Spirit knows the Newmarket terrain well, having excelled at the Suffolk venue on his racecourse debut last October. A fortnight later he finished second in a conditions stakes over Saturday's course and distance.

Toller accepts the Azamour colt might not be streetwise enough for a Classic, but expressed satisfaction in Loving Spirit's well-being. "All he had on Wednesday was a bit of blow, it was certainly nothing too dramatic," said the Hamilton Road handler. "He did a nice bit of work last week, though, and that went particularly well. A couple of showers before the race wouldn't bother me, but the ground is in beautiful condition and it shouldn't be an issue."