Brian Boru heads cup entries

Aidan O'Brien's Brian Boru, winner of last season’s St Leger, heads a total of 22 horses left in the Vodafone Coronation Cup at today’s forfeit stage.

The four-year-old is one of four entries for trainer who has yet to win the 12 furlong race.

The Ballydoyle handler also has the once-raced Excalibur, Ice Dancer and Powerscourt in the June 4 event.

Sulamani, winner of the Arlington Million and Turf Classic Invitational Stakes in America last season, is one of five entries for Godolphin in the race.

Last year’s Coronation Cup runner-up Highest, Doyen, Leadership and Papineau add further strength to the Godolphin team.

Warrsan, who won the race last year, is also among the possibles for Clive Brittain, while the fourth Bandari and sixth Polish Summer, who is trained by Andre Fabre, are still in the race.

Bandari is trained by Mark Johnston who also has three other entries to choose from including Darasim, recent Group Three Ormonde Stakes victor Systematic and Scott’s View, who has finished third in two Group One contests abroad already this season.

Further French interest comes in the form of the Elie Lellouche-trained Vallee Enchantee, victorious in the Group One Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin last December, while High Accolade, Magistretti and Imperial Dancer are among the other interesting contenders.

Stephen Wallis, managing director of Epsom Downs, commented: “It is very pleasing to see many top older horses staying in training this year, which bodes well for a fantastic renewal of the Vodafone Coronation Cup at Epsom Downs on Friday, June 4, featuring a string of entries who have performed at the highest level around the world.”

Today also saw a forfeit stage for the two early closing sprint races at the Vodafone Derby meeting with 16 horses still engaged in the Group Two Vodafone Temple Stakes and 40 horses going forward for the Vodafone “Dash” Stakes.