Ward and O'Brien Double-Handed for Windsor Castle Bid

The switch of the Coventry Stakes (G2) to June 20 means the five-furlong Windsor Castle Stakes is the first juvenile race of the week and the usual suspects line up, including Wesley Ward who achieved his breakthrough success in this event with Strike the Tiger in 2009.

Ward saddles two this time around, with Frankie Dettori out to bag his first win in the contest on Sunshine City, who has been showing up well in her work since arriving in Newmarket a fortnight ago.

The daughter of Creative Cause  won on her debut over 4 1/2 furlongs on dirt at Gulfstream Park in April, although you have to go back 20 years to find the last filly to win this listed event.

Stablemate Sheriff Bianco was second on his debut at Churchill Downs last month and has also impressed since arriving in Britain.

"She won on her debut on the dirt at Gulfstream, but she'll be twice as good on grass," Ward said. "She's impressed in her work since then and it's difficult to pick between her and Sheriff Bianco."

Oisin Murphy, who rides Sheriff Bianco, got a good impression from the son of Speightster . 

"He's a big powerful type who's traveled over well and he gave me a good feel when I sat on him last Monday on the turf," Murphy said. "You never know about the ground for this type of horse, but hopefully it will dry out."

Aidan O'Brien, who also seeks a third win in the contest after Washington DC (2015) and Southern Hills a year ago, is double-handed with recent Navan first and third Chief Little Hawk and Hyde Park Barracks. 

"It's a quick turnaround for both horses but we had to give a run to try and get them into the race," O'Brien said. "They have done nothing since they ran at Navan but seem to be in very good form. We like Chief Little Hawk, who won at Navan. He has a lot of speed and we're looking forward to him. Hyde Park Barracks came home nicely behind Chief Little Hawk at Navan and we were very happy with his run as well. He was working very nicely in the build-up to that race as well. We're hopeful of a good run from the two of them."