Ten face up to Stars

Sea The Stars is poised for his first start in his native Ireland on Saturday when he will face a maximum of 10 opponents in the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes.

Wins in the Stanjames.com 2000 Guineas, Investec Derby, Coral-Eclipse and Juddmonte International give John Oxx's colt star billing, as he bids to land a fifth Group One win at Leopardstown.

However, the trainer remains concerned that the ground will be too soft for him to run.

"All is well with the horse. He came out of his last race in good shape and I couldn't be happier with him," he said.

"It has been raining away here all morning, though, and the forecast for the rest of the week is not in our favour.

"It was supposed to be wet this morning and then clear away, but there is no sign of that yet - or there isn't here anyway.

"The rest of the week is showery, and the showers could be heavy at times, so we just have to hope that Leopardstown misses the rain that is forecast for the area as a whole.

"Leopardstown is a free-draining track, but it will need to be, and we'll have to see how things look in another couple of days.

"We'll have to see what the track has had today. They were starting off with good, good to firm ground, so they were in a good place to begin with.

"If we miss the weekend we will prepare him for the Arc and see what the ground is like there."

O'Brien sextet

Aidan O'Brien is responsible for over half of the six-day confirmations with Irish Derby winner Fame And Glory heading his six-strong squad.

Mastercraftsman, runner-up to Sea The Stars at York last time, has surprisingly stood his ground with Grand Ducal, plus pacemakers Red Rock Canyon, Rockhampton and Set Sail completing the Ballydoyle sextet.

Dermot Weld has Casual Conquest and Famous Name to choose from, while Long Loch and Lord Admiral complete the possibles.

Sir Michael Stoute's Doctor Fremantle was one notable absentee from the runners' list.

Owner Khalid Abdullah's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe said: "He had a tiny issue with a foot, which meant that he missed a bit of work.

"It was nothing too serious, and he is fine now, but it means he won't run this weekend."