Fallon has high hopes

Kieren Fallon is hopeful he can get his Royal Ascot meeting off to a flying start today, with rides in all six races.

The 11 to 8 favourite to be the top rider, Fallon said: "I've got some very good rides today - it could be my strongest day."

His mount, Rudi's Pet, looks set to go off favourite for the King's Stand Stakes, and Fallon said: "I won some nice races on him last year. He missed out in Dubai this spring through injury but he's come back and won well when he wasn't 100 per cent in Ireland. He's a horse that they all have to beat."

He rides outsider Medicean in the St James's Palace Stakes but is hopeful of a bold showing.

"Whether he'll be good enough or not remains to be seen," he said.

"He's got a nice draw and I should be able to run a nice race round Ascot. He is an improving horse."

German challenger Sumitas adds to the international feel for the £250,000 race, which has Group One status for the first time this year.

Stablemate Kalanisi takes his chance in the opening Queen Anne Stakes. Fallon revealed: "He's had a lot of niggling problems all his life.

"He came back in a Listed race at Windsor and just got touched off by a short-head and he's been working nicely."

Fallon went on: "National Anthem runs in the last race and he is going nicely at home with some better horses.

"Daliapour's brother (Dalampour, Queen's Vase) should stay well - he's a horse that is improving all the time."

He also partners Taras Emperor in the Coventry Stakes.

The mouth-watering clash between Dubai Millennium and Sendawar appears to be on course after both were left in at the final declaration stage for tomorrow's Prince of Wales's Stakes. But Henry Cecil's Shiva, whose best form has come with cut in the ground, was a defector from the field, along with Gold Academy, Gracioso, Jim And Tonic and State Shinto, leaving an eight-runner line-up.

"Dubai Millennium can run on any surface and any ground but we hope it is good ground for him," Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor said.

It is not only owners of Derby winners Sinndar and Holding Court who are in line for a substantial bonus at the Budweiser Derby meeting at the Curragh on Sunday week, for if there is only one winning unit of the Jackpot on the day the lucky punter will be entitled to a bonus of $100,000. The Jackpot pool of the day will be guaranteed for £50,000.

Welcoming the Tote Ireland initiative, the Curragh racecourse manager, Jason Morris, said: "It is appropriate that the biggest prize fund for a race in Ireland should be met by the biggest tote incentive offered in recent times."