And Ryan Moore, in the plate at Chester, will again take the ride for Aidan O’Brien, who has won the race four times since 2005.

As expected, the Ballydoyle maestro withdrew his other two entries, Await The Dawn and Cape Blanco, at the 48-hour final declaration stage.

The main opposition to the renaissance of St Nicholas Abbey is forecast to come from the hugely-talented mare Midday, who tries to fill a rare big-race blank for trainer Henry Cecil.

Five-times a winner at the highest level, Khalid Abdullah’s five-year-old has finished second in her two visits to the Surrey venue.

Beaten by Debussy in the Blue Riband Trial on her seasonal debut in 2009, she went down by a head to her great adversary Sariska in the Oaks that summer.

She reaffirmed her enthusiasm for the game with a comeback win at York three weeks ago.

James Given is having two bites at the cherry with Dandino and Indian Days, who were last seen finishing first and third respectively in the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket.

The quintet is completed by the Roger Charlton-trained Clowance, who is in foal to Oasis Dream.

St Nicholas Abbey is a shade of odds-on, at 5-6 with Coral, to show he is a champion older horse.

“St Nicholas Abbey was hot favourite for an Epsom Group One as long ago as October 2009, but although he did not get his chance in last year’s Investec Derby, his win at Chester last month suggested a second top-level win was on the cards,” said Coral’s David Stevens.

“In Midday he faces one of the most consistent performers in training, but her wins have come against her own sex, and we favour Aidan O’Brien’s colt to come out on top.”