Orpen is set to try and make it third time lucky in Group One company this season by contesting next Tuesday's St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained colt, second last in the English 2,00 Guineas but third in the Irish version, is one of 19 horses left in the first-day festival highlight over a mile.

"It's looking likely that Orpen will run. He settled better in the Irish 2,000 Guineas but still not completely. I hope the freshness has gone off him now and he'll give himself a chance and switch off," O'Brien said yesterday.

He has also left Lucky Legend in the race, possibly as a pacemaker, and the other Irish entry is Mus-If. A spokesman for Dermot Weld described Mus-If as only a possible runner yesterday, but if he does travel Pat Smullen will ride.

O'Brien has three left in the Coventry Stakes, including the dual winner, Fasliyev, who is the most likely runner. The others are the Curragh winners, Rossini and Asanovo.

The O'Brien juveniles have been all-dominant at home, with 15 victories from 19 runners.

Other Irish possibles for Ascot include Dazzling Park, who Jim Bolger is considering for the Coronations Stakes. Bolger could also run Remarkable Style in the Wokingham and Tiger Shark in the Britannia.

On the home front, the June 22nd meeting scheduled for Tramore has been cancelled. Remedial work on the track in preparation for the August 12th15th festival has been held up by unsettled weather.

The news is more positive from the Curragh, where the Aga Khan has guaranteed his sponsorship of the £200,000 National Stakes for at least another two years. The Aga Khan will also sponsor the Group Three Blanford Stakes worth £70,000 and the listed Solonaway Stakes worth £40,000.