Bumper Ballydoyle entry at Doncaster

Aidan O'Brien is going all out to win the Rothmans Royals Champagne Stakes for the first time by entering a total of 34 horses out of an entry of 94 for the #120,000 contest at Doncaster next month.

The master of Ballydoyle was second with Rock Of Gibraltar last year and that brilliant miler's full-brother Great Pyramid may aim to go one better in the Group Two event over seven furlongs on Friday, September 13.

Great Pyramid made a successful debut in a Cork maiden earlier this week.

Among O'Brien's other entries are Statue Of Liberty, winner of the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, Hold That Tiger, also unbeaten in two starts, and Van Nistelrooy who was the world's most expensive yearling in 2001, costing US 6.4 million.

The last-named has done nothing wrong so far, winning a maiden and the Listed Tyros Stakes, both over seven furlongs at the Curragh.

This year's entry is slightly down on last year's total of 107 because Godolphin are no longer putting two-year-olds in at the entry stage of early-closing races, preferring instead to use the supplementary entry stage, which for the Champagne Stakes, is on September 6.

Horses can then be added to the field at a cost of #12,000. Godolphin have won the last two renewals of the Champagne Stakes, with Noverre being successful in 2000, and Dubai Destination foiling Rock Of Gibraltar last year when they made 18 initial entries.

Godolphin are considering supplementing last week's Group Three Vintage Stakes winner Dublin for the Champagne.

Marlborough-based Richard Hannon has sent out more two-year-old winners than any other trainer in Britain so far this season and he has made seven entries.

These include impressive Newbury maiden winner High Accolade, three-times victor Puma, the Group Three July Stakes runner-up Tacitus and Tycoon Hall, who landed his only start at Newmarket in good style.

Another trainer with a multiple entry is Barry Hills who has an excellent record in the Champagne Stakes, having sent out Sexton Blake (1977), Sure Blade (1985), Auction House (1998) and Distant Music (1999) to victory.

This year he has seven possibles including All Nines, twice a winner at Doncaster this season, and impressive Ascot maiden winner Salcombe.

Middleham trainer Mark Johnston has put in eight, including Bourbonnais runner-up to Dublin at Goodwood, Doncaster conditions stakes winner Wilful and dual victor Ketan.

Doncaster general manager Steven Clarke said: 'We are delighted with both the quantity and quality of the entries for this year's Rothmans Royals Champagne Stakes which has attracted the very top horses in recent years and we look forward to another high-class renewal.'