The middle-distance mid-summer highlight is upon us. Affectionally known as the “King George,” it has attracted a small but select field of five.

Aidan O’Brien sends a pair of St Leger winners from Ballydoyle, 4-year-old Jan Brueghel, the mount of Ryan Moore, and 5-year-old Continuous, with Wayne Lordan on top, will take on, from the Francis-Henri Graffard yard, Chantilly-based 4-year-old Calandagan, who’ll be piloted by Mickael Barzalona.

The home defence relies on Charlie Appleby’s 7-year-old, Rebels Romance, with William Buick on board and 4-year-old, Kalpana, trained by Andrew Balding with Oisin Murphy in the plate.

The race features a rematch between the G1 Coronation Cup first and second, Jan Brueghel, and Calandagan. Yesterday, the market couldn’t split them however, overnight, the latter has hardened into favouritism at 5/4 with the former drifting to 9/4.

At Epsom, it was the French horse that was expected to win; he’d gone off at 4/6f with the Irish horse going off 100/30. Continuous set the pace, a job he’ll do once again. When they rounded Tattenham Corner, the big two came to the fore and the pair fought out an entralling and absorbing battle down the straight, with Calandagan not quite handling the camber; it was the St Leger winner of the previous year, Jan Brueghel, who came out on top.

Jan Brueghel has only been beaten once in six starts, when in need of the run, over an inadequate trip in the G3 Alleged Stakes over 1m2f in April.

Jan Brueghel at the Curragh last year

Last year at Royal Ascot, Calandagan announced himself top class with a 6L romp in the G2 King Edward VII Stakes over this trip, 1m4f. He cemented his reputation next time out when chasing home City Of Troy in the G1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York, beaten 1L, he then filled the same position, going down to Anmaat, beaten ½L, in the G1 Champion Stakes at Ascot, a feat he repeated at Meyden this year behind Japanese horse Danon Decile in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic, beaten 1¼L. The Coronation Cup made it four seconds in a row, and just when it looked like the Group 1 ceiling wouldn’t be broken, he pulled clear to win the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, beating the Arc second, Aventure, by 3½L with considerable authority.

Rebels Romance is a model of consistency, a world traveller, he’s done the air miles. He’s won over £10m in prizemoney, bagging seven Group 1’s in the process, including two running of the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Last time out, he won the G2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, beating Al Riffa 1¾L, he franked the form at the Curragh last weekend when winning at G2 level.

Kalpana, the only mare in the field, won the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes last year. Twice raced this year, both at the Curragh, first over 1m2½f she finished third in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup, beaten 1½L and then back against her own sex, in the G1 Pretty Polly over 1m2f, she got to Whirl, but in a titanic battle, she couldn’t pass her, finishing second, beaten 1¼L.

Kalpana at the Curragh this year

Continuous will keep them all honest, the pace will be strong, and stamina will be tested.

All four will be in with a shout.

Age may just be a number for Rebels Romance, but youth, the catcher, may mean he’s the first to crack. Sex may cost Kalpana, a 3lbs pull at the weights is slim advantage against these colts. The last couple of furlongs could see a repeat of the Coronation Cup. While the camber at Epsom may have caught Calandagan out, this more conventional track, the scene of his finest hour, will be to his benefit; however, at Epsom, in the battle to the line, Jan Brueghel was always just doing enough; he had Calandagan at bay; he can do it again today.

Recommendation

Jan Brueghel 9/4 win