Custom Cut© Photo Healy Racing
Connections of Integral are well aware their mare faces a tough ask as she takes on the colts in Saturday's Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on what is her seasonal bow.
The five-year-old is the only one of her sex in the massive 18-runner field for the Group One and on the only other occasion in her 11-race career she has tackled the colts, she was a well-beaten seventh in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day.
It was always Sir Michael Stoute's intention to start her season in this race, though, and she has reportedly wintered well.
Chris Richardson, managing director of owners Cheveley Park Stud, said: "She seems in good order and has wintered well. Obviously it is a tough ask taking on some strong colts. She goes on any ground and it is a nice starting point for her.
"Sir Michael Stoute had always had this race as the target for her and from it we will work out which way to go for Royal Ascot.
"She is a light-framed filly but she won her maiden first time out so we know she can go well fresh, although this is a different kettle of fish. However, she deserves to take her place in the line-up."
Aljamaaheer was third in the race two years ago and arguably has not won the amount of races his talent suggests he should have.
Angus Gold, racing manager for owner Sheikh Hamdan, said: "Aljamaaheer is fine and came out of his run at Leicester in good shape, according to Roger Varian. He didn't get a clear run that day - he seems to be a horse who is good at being unlucky.
"He retains plenty of ability and could run very well in the Lockinge. He has run well over every trip in the past couple of years and I have no doubt he has a big win in him if things fall in his favour."
Custom Cut has made great strides since joining David O'Meara and his improvement shows no sings of stopping given he won a Group Two at Sandown on his return.
O'Meara said: "I'm really looking forward to running him. The straight track might not be in his favour as I think he's better round a bend, and there's loads of runners, unusually for a Group One.
"He's such a fantastic horse to train and looks like he's come on again. Any more rain will be a help, we know he handles it and it might just take the sting out of a few of the others.
"He's a classy horse and has the run under his belt, which some of the others don't."
Here Comes When was second to Custom Cut at Sandown and his trainer Andrew Balding thinks he is going in under the radar. Balding also runs Tullius.
"I think Here Comes When is an overlooked horse. He has twice won at Group Two level and ran a good trial when second on his reappearance at Sandown last month," said the trainer.
"Any rain will also help Tullius. He was a bit disappointing when we ran him over 10 furlongs at Sandown last time. However, he was second in the Lockinge last year and won well on his reappearance over a mile at Doncaster.
"I think they are two lively outsiders."
Peter Chapple-Hyam's Arod was fourth in the Derby last year but drops back down to a mile.
The handler said: "Arod is very well. It was a good comeback at Newmarket. A mile is a new thing for him. He raced a bit keenly over further last season and so that is why we are giving it a go.
"He is in the Queen Anne Stakes and the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, so Newbury will give us a pointer as to where we go with him this season."
