Brothers line up in formidable assault from Team Ballydoyle

Investec Coronation Cup (Group 1) 1m4f | 4yo+ | ITV/RUK

It has been four years since Aidan O'Brien trained the winner of the Coronation Cup. That rates a bit of dry spell for a man who made it his own for the best part of a decade with the likes of St Nicholas Abbey and Yeats.

No fear. With a quick whistle around Ballydoyle, O'Brien has rummaged up the Arc runner-up and the second and third from last year's Derby to put things right.

Highland Reel's second to Found at Chantilly was the central peak of a season when he won the King George Vl And Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Breeders' Cup Turf.

March's flop behind Jack Hobbs in the Dubai Sheema Classic can be forgiven as it was on yielding ground, which has produced his three worst runs. So O'Brien will be hoping localised thunderstorms and heavy rain forecast for the south-east stay clear of Epsom.

Idaho, Highland Reel's year-younger brother, is arguably the more intriguing of the other O'Brien players, despite finishing behind stablemate US Army Ranger in the Derby a year ago. He was second in the Irish Derby and winner of the Great Voltigeur and O’Brien thinks Idaho could show marked improvement on his first start of the season.

So could the John Gosden-trained mare Journey, who receives a 3lb allowance on her first start since completing a hat-trick when winning the Group 1 Fillies & Mares Stakes on British Champions Day.

Unlike O'Brien, Charlie Appleby is hoping for rain to heighten the chances for last year's Eclipse winner Hawkbill, back to form at Newbury last month.

Eye for Epsom

Dahlia second Elbereth has a bit to find on ratings, but is the only course winner in the field, having been successful in a handicap at the meeting two years ago.

Jolly good show

The Coronation Cup has been sweet for backers of favourites. Six of the last seven winners have started at evens or shorter. Pether's Moon, at 11-1 in 2015, has offered the only relief for layers lately.

What they say

Ralph Beckett, trainer of Air Pilot
His previous tries at Group 1 level haven't really worked out. But he's in very good form having won at Naas. We know he acts on the track, having been second there on his third start for us. I think he'll run well, but I would have preferred more juice in the ground.

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Hawkbill and Frontiersman
Hawkbill's participation will be reviewed on Friday. We've declared on good ground and he will take his chance if the going remains genuinely good, but we will take stock if it starts to quicken up. He won over a mile and a half last time and we feel that is his best trip this season. We ran him at Newbury to gain some confidence and he has come out of the race very well. The one thing he is good at is setting and maintaining a decent gallop. In more testing conditions, he is one of the few horses that can not only maintain a good pace, but also quicken. We just want to make sure that the ground is safe enough for him to perform on. Frontiersman was declared to run at York last week but had some swelling after giving himself a knock and we pulled him out of that race. He's fine now and you couldn't fail to be impressed with him at Newmarket, when he won very well off top weight. It is a big step up from a handicap to a Group 1 but he has an amazing pedigree. He is a typical son of Dubawi and looks to be on an upward curve.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Highland Reel, Idaho and US Army Ranger
Highland Reel was just ready to start back when he ran in Dubai in March. He's a proven Group 1 performer over the distance and is going there in good form. We're happy with him. Idaho and US Army Ranger both have good form over the course from last year's Derby when they were third and second. Idaho hasn't had a run this year but we're happy with him and he's ready to start. US Army Ranger has had a couple of runs and only lost out by a short head in the Ormonde Stakes last time. We've been pleased with him since Chester.

Saeed Bin Suroor, trainer of Prize Money
He ran some very good races out in Dubai, winning the Dubai City Of Gold. We took him to Chelmsford City for a piece of work last Saturday, which went well. He looks in good condition and a mile and a half is a nice trip. He is a horse that we like and it is a case of so far, so good with him.

Andrew Balding, trainer of Elbereth
She's in good order. She's very consistent and handles the track. It's a tall order, but she'll run her race and there is good prize-money right the way down, which she is capable of getting.

John Gosden, trainer of Journey
It was always the intention to bring her back in a Group 1 rather than having to carry penalties against colts at a lesser level. Like a lot of fillies she will improve as the summer goes on and her big end-of-season target is another crack at the Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot.