The Gurkha© Photo Healy Racing
The Gurkha drops back down to a mile in an attempt to gain revenge on his Royal Ascot conqueror Galileo Gold in the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
So impressive in winning the French 2000 Guineas at Deauville in mid-May, Aidan O'Brien's colt chased home Hugo Palmer's English 2000 Guineas hero in the St James's Palace Stakes.
He has since contested the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown and was narrowly beaten by Godolphin's Hawkbill.
O'Brien said: "Obviously we have not done much since the Eclipse. I think he travelled well that day but I suppose the ground was softer than ideal. I thought he ran a good race.
"We think he is a hardy horse at home and he has been taking his races very well so far."
Kevin Prendergast felt conditions at Ascot were too testing for Awtaad, who finished third in the St James's Palace after claiming the scalp of Galileo Gold in the Irish 2,000 Guineas.
"He's going there in good shape," said the County Kildare-based trainer. "We've been very happy with him at home. It might have just been one run too many in a short space of time at Ascot, but we think he's in very good form now.
"I don't think we could have him any better and I've no worries about anything. We're just hoping he'll run a good race."
Palmer expects there to be "no hiding place" on Wednesday for Galileo Gold.
"There's only one enjoyable result for me. I loved the Guineas, I loved Ascot, but the Curragh was less enjoyable," said Palmer.
"His work has been good since Ascot, he's got physically stronger and we know he handles the track because he won well there last year in the Vintage Stakes.
"He is going to run on faster ground than he's been running on this year but then that's the same for all of them. There's no hiding place in a race like this and it's great for racing having these three leading milers taking each other on.
"I've always thought Galileo Gold has been slightly underrated, but he's got the form in the book now."
Frankie Dettori has been ever-present in the saddle since Galileo Gold's Glorious Goodwood success 12 months ago and he is also relishing the task in hand.
Dettori said: "The Sussex Stakes has been the plan and it is on a track he has raced on before so that's one tick in his favour.
"Again it will be a great renewal with three Guineas winners in and some good older horses. I am looking forward to the challenge. I am not saying we are going to win it but I am very confident he will run a huge race if luck is on our side."
