O’Brien pair may tackle Nayef
The Marcus Tregoning-trained five-year-old is a 9-4 chance from 2s ahead of the Group One showpiece following yesterday's confirmation stage.
Aidan O'Brien has three entries in Alberto Giacometti, Balestrini and Hold That Tiger, with the latter two most likely to run.
Jeff Smith has paid the £20,000 supplementary to add the David Elsworth-trained Norse Dancer to the field and Elsworth could have two runners as Indian Creek is also engaged in the race.
A total of 27 horses stand heir ground, including Norse Dancer, who was added to the field at a cost of £20,000.
And Nayef will once again have the aid of a pacemaker as he attempts to take another step towards the Summer Triple Crown, which involves a £1million pay-out.
He would need to win both the Eclipse and then the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes to land the money.
The Gulch horse would add a further £4million should he land the Juddmonte International Stakes at York in August.
"The Triple Crown and the Grand Slam have been created in order to uncover an ultimate middle-distance champion and we are pointing Nayef firmly at it," Tregoning said.
"I have declared Izdiham as well as Ekraar for the Eclipse but will probably run Izdiham along with Nayef, as he likes to go a good pace and we can be assured of a true gallop, which is what Nayef wants.
"I think he must have a great chance on Saturday and also an outstanding chance in the King George as he ran so well in it last year, while this summer he seems so much better in himself, as he showed when carrying Richard Hills to the front at Royal Ascot."
Nayef and Islington were split at Ascot by Rakti, but his trainer Michael Jarvis confirmed that he would not be reopposing at the weekend.
"Rakti is in good form, but the race comes a bit quick after Royal Ascot and we are spacing things out because we want him to last the year," the Newmarket trainer said.
"He ran a great race there, but Nayef beat us fair and square and there is no point in taking him on again so quickly but we will take him on later on in the year perhaps."
One unexposed threat to the market leaders at Sandown could come from Delsarte.
He is set to represent the in-form yard of Mark Johnston, who also has Bandari in at the five-day stage.
The former lost little in defeat when second to the Tregoning-trained High Accolade in the King George V Stakes at Ascot on what was only the third start of his life.
Cashmans bet: 9/4 Nayef, 5/1 Islington, 6/1 Norse Dancer, 7/1 Grandera, 8/1 Falbrav, 9/1 Hold That Tiger
King George, Ascot, July 26: 4/1 Nayef, 4/1 Alamshar, 9/2 Kris Kin, 5/1 Sulamani, 7/1 Islington.
