British trainers mount a very strong challenge for Saturday`s Jefferson Smurfit Irish St Leger at the Curragh with half of the 16 acceptors at today`s forfeit stage.
Godolphin, who have won the race for the past two years with Kayf Tara, have last year`s Doncaster St Leger winner Mutafaweq and 1998 Prix de l`Arc de Triomphe winner Sagamix left in the final Irish Classic.
James Fanshawe has confirmed his Ascot winner Arctic Owl a definite challenger with David Harrison aboard, while Richard Hannon has left in his Doncaster Cup runner-up Churlish Charm.
Sir Michael Stoute has Little Rock included, while David Elsworth said today it was `60-40 against` Persian Punch running at the Curragh on Saturday.
John Dunlop is hoping for plenty of rain if Orchestra Stall is to take his place in the line-up while Mark Johnston confirmed the Irish-owned Yavana`s Pace a definite starter in an attempt to improve on last year`s second to Kayf Tara.
Permit-holder Luke Comer has supplemented this seasons St Leger third Chimes At Midnight.
A 40-1 chance when a close-up third to Millenary and Air Marshall at Doncaster last Saturday, Chimes at Midnight is the sole supplementary entry at a cost of #21,875.
Media Puzzle, who finished a place behind Chimes At Midnight at Town Moor, is one of two possibles from Dermot Weld`s stable along with Hirapour, while John Oxx has Katiykha and Mouramara as his possibles.
Aidan O`Brien has left three in the race, Rostropovich, Lermontov and Chiang Mai.
O`Brien`s stable dominate Sunday`s Group One Aga Khan Studs National Stakes with 11 of the 16 horses remaining in the race.
The lone British acceptor is Mark Johnston`s Down To The Woods, a winner at Doncaster last Saturday.
The going at the Curragh is described as good, good to firm on the round course, with rain forecast over the next few days.
