Kingsman faces older rivals for first time in Qipco Sussex stakes

Also among the nine horses who remain in the contest are the hugely-progressive four-year-old filly Integral, who won the Gr.1 QIPCO Falmouth Stakes on her most recent outing when following up a Royal Ascot success, last year's Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes heroOlympic Glory, and a trio from Aidan O'Brien's string.

Toronado (nearest) wins last year's QIPCO Sussex Stakes

O'Brien is not alone in holding three cards, for Richard Hannon has Classic-placed Shifting Power to call upon in addition to Toronado and Olympic Glory.

The star turn and pre-race favourite, however, is Kingman, who has shrugged off the shock of defeat in the Gr.1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas to win the Irish equivalent followed by the Gr.1 St James's Palace Stakes. Impressive victory on hugely differing ground in those two races marked him out as potentially the best horse since Frankel - ironically both horses were bred and owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah.

The Gr.1 QIPCO Sussex Stakes, another leg in the QIPCO British Champions Series, takes place on Wednesday next week (3.05pm). It will be broadcast live on Channel 4 Racing and Racing UK and is the highlight of the five-day Glorious Goodwood festival of racing.

(Pictures by Laurence Squire and Dan Abraham)