The Gold Cup has enjoyed something of a renaissance in recent times following an uncertain future when the breeding of stayers became unfashionable.
Small fields and occasional uncompetitive renewals had put pressure on the Royal Ascot showpiece and there were even calls for the distance to be dropped by half a mile to two miles.
But the highlight of Ladies Day on Thursday week, that was first run in 1807, is as popular as ever - the evidence being fields of 17, 16 and 13 in the past three years.
And another double-figure number is again on the cards as the cream of Europe's stayers bid to lift the £210,000 prize.
Most of them will have run in the race at least once before and the horse that is likely to be on everyone's lips is Kayf Tara.
Godolphin's six-year-old has become a standing dish every June at the Berkshire track, winning the Group One prize in 1998 and finishing third 12 months ago.
Kayf Tara was a bit if party pooper two years for the 11-1 shot denied the ever-popular Double Trigger by a neck in a thrilling finish.
He could not quite match that performance last summer in his bid to become the first horse since Drum Taps (1992 & 93) to record back-to-back victories.
But his third to Enzeli and Invermark, beaten a total of four lengths, could not exactly be called a poor run. That was his only defeat from five starts last year as he mopped up four major stayer's prizes including a repeat triumph in the Jefferson Smurfit Memorial Irish St Leger.
A near-fore suspensory ligament injury that ruled him out of the Melbourne Cup was career threatening but Kayf Tara returned to the course only last month in breathtaking style when winning the Yorkshire Cup to take his earnings beyond £500,000.
'This could be his last year of racing and Ascot is the obvious target,' said Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford.
He is strongly-fancied to regain the stayers' championship with Corals, who have been betting on the race for some time. They make the Sadler's Wells entire 2-1 favourite.
Godolphin have a strong second string in Mutafaweq, who aims to emulate the Dubai-based operation's first Gold Cup winner Classic Cliche (1996) by following up victory in the previous year's St Leger with Ascot gold.
The four-year-old was a creditable third to last year's French Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Montjeu over an inadequate trip at the Curragh on his seasonal debut recently.
His stamina has to be taken on trust as he has not raced beyond an extended mile and three-quarters, but he has to be taken seriously as he is a class act.
Last year's winner Enzeli was short-headed by Mark Johnston's Royal Rebel at Leopardstown but badly needed the run according to trainer John Oxx has to be on the short list as he attempts to join the elite list of dual Gold Cup winners.
Persian Punch has failed in three Gold Cups but will try to make it fourth time lucky after winning the Bonusprint Stakes (registered as the Henry II Stakes) for the third time in four years at Sandown last month.
Trainer David Elsworth said: 'The three times he's been to Ascot for the Gold Cup he's run disappointingly. I expect we'll have another go, but it always spoils my Ascot.'
Last year's Henry II Stakes winner Arctic Owl, who was putting in his best work at the finish when third to Persian Punch, missed the Gold Cup in 1999 because the ground was considered too firm for him.
Granted suitable conditions, the James Fanshawe-trained six-year-old would have each-way claims.
Last year's Queen's Vase winner Endorsement has 'come back very well' from illness and is heading for a tilt at the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.
Trainer Henry Cecil is hoping to repeat his feat of 1980 when Le Moss won the highlight of the Royal meeting for the second year running without the benefit of a prep run.
He gave Endorsement a gallop after racing at Newmarket at the start of the month and explained her absence from the track since last August.
'There is no race for her,' he said.
'She won the Queen's Vase and then she went for the Prix de Pomone in Deauville but she got laminitis in her box and she has been off for a long time.
'But she has come back very well and she is my Gold Cup filly - we are hoping to 'do a Le Moss' with her.'
She would have to be in Le Moss's class to upset Kayf Tara, as would the rest of the field.
Gold Cup: Coral bet: 2-1 Kayf Tara, 6-1 Enzeli, 8-1 Mutafaweq, 10 Arctic Owl, 12-1 Persian Punch, 14-1 San Sebastian, Orchestra Stall, Life Is Life 16-1 Celeric, Endorsement, Far Cry, Rainbow High, 25-1 Hirapour, 33-1 Sinon, Ashgar, 40-1 Compton Ace.
