Churchill and Barney Roy are set to resume their rivalry at Royal Ascot having both been entered for the St James’s Palace Stakes.
Last year’s champion juvenile Churchill has made a strong start to his time as a three-year-old, claiming glory in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket before adding the Irish equivalent at the Curragh.
Barney Roy saw his winning start halted in the 2000 Guineas and Richard Hannon has kept him at home since in a bid to tailor his form.
However, Hannon and Aidan O’Brien have both confirmed their charges for Tuesday‘s St James’s Palace Stakes and the Ballydoyle handler, who also has Lancaster Bomber and Peace Envoy entered, admits he is looking forward seeing Churchill back in the action at the Royal meeting.
“We were delighted with Churchill at Newmarket and again when he won at the Curragh,” O’Brien said. “Everything has gone fine since then. He’s very straightforward and he should be happy on the [good to firm] ground.
“There are lot of good horses in the race and we have total respect for them all.”
