The Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (16h35) will be run at Newbury on Saturday.
One of the prestigious mile Group 1 contests in the UK, it has attracted a top-class field of eleven runners, vying for the £226 840 first prize.
Run over the straight mile, track conditions are currently good, good to soft in places, with light rain forecast.
Topping the betting as joint favourites at 2/1, are the French champion miler Big Rock and Breeder’s Cup Mile winning mare Inspiral.
Big Rock, the sole International challenger in the line-up, returns to the track for the first time since recording an impressive front-running winning performance in the QE II Stakes on Champions Day in October.
He remains open to improvement at four and any rain will enhance his claims.
Inspiral – a major factor! (Pic – Racing TV)
He faces stiff opposition in six-time Group 1 winner Inspiral, who came out on top in their only previous match-up in the Gr1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville in August.
That contest was also run over a straight mile, and the Gosden-trained mare finished strongly to win by a length and a quarter. She receives a handy 3lb sex allowance and has great form returning from a break.
Ex-champion jockey Silvestre de Sousa has built up a good relationship with Charyn this season, winning twice including in the Gr2 Sandown Mile last time.
Trained by an in-form Roger Varian, the four-year-old Dark Angel colt quickened up smartly to win both his two starts this season and has race fitness on his side.
At Sandown, Charyn was one place ahead of Poker Face, who will reoppose representing the Crisford operation.
The five-year-old made incredible improvement throughout last season, completing a hat-trick in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein at Longchamp on Arc weekend.
The cheekpieces were added for his comeback and are retained.
Big Rock is the one to beat according to official ratings however, Inspiral has twice run right up to her best on her seasonal reappearances.
For those looking at the bigger priced runners, Real World could be the answer at 20/1.
Oisin Murphy rides the Saeed bin Suroor trained runner who could be involved if reproducing his two runner-up finishes to champion Baaeed in 2022, including in this race.
Earlier on the card at 14h50, the royal runner Desert Hero looks the part in the Newbury Sky Sports Racing Aston Park Stakes run over a mile and a half.
He made an encouraging return at Sandown last month, finishing second in the Gr3 Gordon Richards Stakes, his first run after gelding. His chances will be increased with any rain.
