Derby favourite The Lion In Winter could face up to 28 rivals in intriguing €1m Curragh contest

Next year's Derby and 2,000 Guineas favourite The Lion In Winter will take his next step towards the Classics when lining up in Saturday's Goffs Million at the Curragh, with 29 left in the race after the forfeit stage.

The Sea The Stars colt built on a highly impressive debut at the Curragh in July and enhanced his big reputation when landing the Acomb Stakes at York, beating Godolphin's €2.3 million buy Ruling Court impressively. 

He is the best runner on Racing Post Ratings and will get to contest the €1m race without a penalty. His trainer Aidan O'Brien has stated this is his main target but he also holds an entry in the Goffs 500 over six furlongs.

O'Brien was responsible for four of the potential runners in the Million with recent winner Antelope Canyon, Garden Of Eden and newcomer Minnie Hauk also put forward. 

The trainer's son Joseph will field one of The Lion In Winter's biggest challengers in Apples And Bananas who was successful in Listed company at Deauville on his last start. Stablemates Celtic Motif, Dante's Lad and Valencia have yet to win but are put forward.

The British challenge is led by Consent, a two-length debut winner for Sir Mark Prescott. Ed Walker could field two, the recent Goodwood runner-up Mollie Foster and Imperial Trooper who filled the same spot in a 7f nursey at Sandown last month.

Bolo Neighs (Ralph Beckett), Evangelic (Charlie Hills) and Captain Harry (Andrew Balding) also keep their place in the race, which has a maximum field of 30 runners.

The growing Jack Davison yard could run Lightning Bear, an eyecatching winner at Down Royal earlier in September, while American Bar could look to bounce back having finished last of nine in a Group 2 at the Curragh in the summer.

Unbeaten colt Lambourn and smart talent Delacroix have entries in the Group 2 Montane Developments Beresford Stakes on the same card. The race was the catalyst for future O'Brien aces such as St Nicholas Abbey, Saxon Warrior and Luxembourg.

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