Last year's winner Papineau heads a field of 18 - the biggest in the race's history - for the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot at York on Thursday.
Godolphin's five-year-old, who beat 12 rivals in the race last year, was fifth on his seasonal debut in the Yorkshire Cup last month but missed the Coronation Cup at Epsom recently because of a bruised foot.
He attempts to emulate Royal Rebel who landed the two-and-a-half stamina test two years running in 2001 and 2002.
Godolphin will also be represented by Razkalla and Fight Your Corner but have withdrawn Duke Of Venice.
The latter was among just two horses to come out at today's 48-hour final declaration stage, the other being the David Elsworth-trained First Ballot.
That leaves Thursday's field beating by one the previous record in 1999 when Enzeli beat off 16 rivals in the race founded in 1807.
Paul Cole's Mr Dinos, the winner two years ago, bids to regain his crown in what will be his first race of the season.
The Elie Lellouche-trained Westerner, second to Papineau last June, aims to be the first French-trained winner since Sagaro completed a hat-trick of successes in 1977.
Another runner-up hoping to go one better is Dermot Weld's Vinnie Roe. The four times Irish St Leger hero was pipped by Royal Rebel in 2002.
A second Irish contender is Wolfe Tone, trained by Aidan O'Brien, who has yet to capture the Gold Cup.
Adding further spice is Darsalam, trained in the Czech Republic by Arslangirey Shavuyev, who sent him over to finish sixth behind Rule Of Law in the St Leger at Doncaster last September.
Other interesting runners include Mark Johnston's Darasim, third last year, Yorkshire Cup winner Franklins Gardens, Sir Michael Stoute's Distinction and Percussionist from Howard Johnson's stable.