The Great War set for Ascot battle The Great War puts his lofty reputation on the line in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot this afternoon. Ante-post favourite for next year's Qipco 2000 Guineas on the back of two wins in as many starts, the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt is a son of fashionable stallion War Front and is an imposing individual. Both his wins have come at five furlongs, most recently in a Listed race at the Curragh in May, and connections opted to stay at the minimum trip rather than the six furlongs of Tuesday's Coventry Stakes. A recent planned outing on Irish Guineas weekend was sidestepped due to the rain-softened ground. Jockey Joseph O'Brien said: "It didn't make sense to run him on Guineas weekend on that ground. "He hasn't come off the bridle yet. He probably hasn't beaten great horses yet, but you couldn't have asked him to do it any easier than he has." Leading the opposition is the Richard Hannon-trained Baitha Alga, the mount of Frankie Dettori in the Al Shaqab Racing colours that have already been prominent this week. The Fast Company colt has won his last two starts and was impressive at Epsom on Derby day. Mukhmal for Mark Johnston will command plenty of attention after defying a wide draw to win in some style at Chester's May meeting, while the once-raced Snap Shots is held in some regard by the Tom Dascombe team.
