International stars clash as Lord North bids to spoil State Of Rest's homecoming

Sunday: 2.40 Curragh
Tattersalls Gold Cup (Group 1) | 1m2½f | 4yo+ | RTV/RTE1

There have been some slightly underwhelming editions of this top-level contest in recent years but the 2022 running looks a cracking race featuring five Group 1 winners and a classy Royal Ascot Group 2 scorer to boot.

Any thoughts that this could be a straightforward homecoming for globetrotting star State Of Rest were shelved once triple Group 1 winner Lord North was declared for this €400,000 prize.

The pair of international campaigners have amassed half a dozen wins at the highest level between them and set a pretty lofty standard with official ratings of 120.

State Of Rest, officially Ireland's highest-rated horse in training, probably holds a slight fitness edge over John and Thady Gosden's raider following his gutsy Prix Ganay strike at Longchamp three weeks ago.

State Of Rest (yellow cap) denies Anamoe (right) and Verry Elleegant in last year's Cox PlateCredit: Vince Caligiuri (Getty Images)

We haven't seen Lord North since he made it back-to-back wins in the Dubai Turf eight weeks ago, but he deserves plenty of credit for that effort – dead-heating with Japan's Panthalassa – considering Gosden snr said the six-year-old was only just ready in time after a nasty throat infection.

Neither of the top two in the standings would relish much rain, albeit Lord North has won on heavy at Listed level.

This will be a very different test to what State Of Rest faced when winning the Saratoga Derby Invitational and Cox Plate last season, but there is every chance he could be developing into a better four-year-old than he was at three.

Lord North may boast a higher standard of form from winning the Prince of Wales's Stakes and finishing third in a Juddmonte International, but he is two years older and State Of Rest has much more scope to improve.

The claims of several other leading players probably depend on how much rain falls over the weekend.

Mac Swiney: Classic hero finished an excellent third in last year's Champion Stakes at AscotCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Last year's Irish 2,000 Guineas hero Mac Swiney is much better when conditions are testing and the same can be said for Helvic Dream, who won this race last year.

Noel Meade has had to bide his time with Helvic Dream while waiting for ease in the ground and improvement is to be expected from his comeback fifth in the Alleged Stakes last month. This looks a much deeper race than the one he won 12 months ago, however.

Broome was a short-head runner-up last year but Aidan O'Brien has warned he will come forward from this reappearance, with Royal Ascot his first major target of the year.

Last season's Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner and Breeders' Cup Turf runner-up hasn't been seen finishing down the field in the Japan Cup in November. He suffered a freak injury after that outing when he was kicked by another horse and fractured his shin.

Alenquer: Royal Ascot winner bids for a first Group 1 victoryCredit: Edward Whitaker

Alenquer, trained by William Haggas, has been freshened up since being beaten a length and a half into sixth in the Dubai Sheema Classic in March, having previously beaten a below-par Lord North in the Winter Derby at Lingfield.

This trip could prove perfect for last year's King Edward VII Stakes winner, who beat Adayar in the Sandown Classic Trial and was placed in both the Grand Prix de Paris and Juddmonte International.

Expect him to give the top two most to think about in a top-level showdown to savour.

State Of Rest primed for toughest domestic task yet

It has been 11 months since State Of Rest was last seen on an Irish racecourse but in his time abroad he has developed into one of international racing's toughest up-and-coming talents.

Having jumped through significant hoops in passing medical checks to compete at Moonee Valley last October, the Starspangledbanner colt showed tremendous grit to plunder the Cox Plate and proved it left no mark when following up in the Prix Ganay this month.

Winning connections after State Of Rest's victory in the Group 1 Prix Ganay at LongchampCredit: Racing Post/Scott Burton

However, Joseph O'Brien, who has campaigned his stable star with great skill, believes this assignment will be his toughest for some time.

A victory here would be just the second of State Of Rest's career on home soil. His only other domestic success came on his debut in a six-furlong juvenile median sires maiden at Fairyhouse in June 2020.

"Fingers crossed there isn't too much rain," said O'Brien, who won the race as a jockey in 2012 aboard So You Think.

"It looks a competitive Group 1 and hopefully he'll be in the shake-up again. This probably looks his toughest task for a while on paper but we're looking forward to running him."

'Lord North won't mind any rain'

Lord North is set to become John and Thady Gosden's first runner in Ireland since the pair joined forces in a training partnership last year and will be out to continue the Clarehaven stable's tremendous record with its raiders.

Since 2009, Gosden snr has had 23 runners in Irish Group 1 races and emerged with 12 winners, four seconds, two thirds and two fourths.

Lord North (centre) and Panthalassa (right) dead heat in the Dubai Turf, with Vin De Garde in thirdCredit: Edward Whitaker

There is a possibility of light showers across the weekend at the Curragh and Thady Gosden believes this will not inconvenience the high-class six-year-old.

Gosden jnr said: "He ran exceptionally well on only his second start back from missing most of last year when winning in Dubai and has been training well since.

"He's quite versatile as regards ground requirements and won't mind any rain."

What they say

William Haggas, trainer of Alenquer
He’s a very solid horse and will like the ground. He’s never landed a Group 1 and is up against proven winners at that level but is very well.

Mick Halford, trainer of Bear Story
He'll need a personal best but has been running consistently and improving gradually, so the owner was keen to let him take his chance.

Helvic Dream holds off Broome in last year's Tattersalls Gold CupCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Broome and High Definition
Broome is in good form and just ready to start. We wanted to get a run into him – we plan on going to Royal Ascot with him – and this looked a nice race to start off in. He'll come on plenty for whatever he does here but we're very happy with his work and looking forward to seeing him run. High Definition is in good form. We've been delighted with him since his last run and he seems to be progressing nicely. We have the option of stepping him up in trip later but we're happy to keep him at this trip for the moment.

Noel Meade, trainer of Helvic Dream
We're hoping the rain comes for him because it looks a very hot race. There's a lot of quality in here but our horse is in good form and we can do no more with him.

Sunday's big-race previews:

Get the lowdown from Aidan O'Brien on his four Irish 1,000 Guineas contenders

Pearls Galore faces serious test from exciting Twilight Spinner in Group 2 prize

Possible Hunt Cup contender Gifted Ruler 'in good shape' for his return

'He likes York and there are plenty of positives' - trainer quotes for sprint

Stay ahead of the field with 50 per cent off the ultimate racing subscription. Enjoy the Racing Post digital newspaper and award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing. Plus, make informed betting decisions with our expert tips and form study tools. Head to the subscription page and select 'Get Ultimate Monthly', then enter the code WELCOME22 to get 50 per cent off your first three months.

First three payments will be charged at £17.48, subscription renews at full monthly price thereafter.

Customers wishing to cancel will need to contact us at least seven days before their subscription is due to renew.