Murtagh on Minnaloushe

Johnny Murtagh will keep the ride on Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Black Minnaloushe in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot tomorrow. He will stay on board last month's Classic winner - a 5-1 chance with William Hill - for Aidan O'Brien as stable-jockey Michael Kinane is again to ride Minardi, who could manage only third when sent off favourite at the Curragh.

O'Brien also saddles Darwin (Paul Scallan) in tomorrow's feature event, which he won with Giant's Causeway 12 months ago.

A final line-up of 11 was declared for the Group One contest yesterday, with Godolphin fielding Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2,000 Guineas) winner Noverre (Frankie Dettori).

The betting is headed by the unbeaten Dandoun (Pat Eddery) on 7 to 2, whose trainer John Dunlop also runs Olden Times (Gerald Mosse).

Ascot's clerk of the course Nick Cheyne reported conditions as "perfect" ahead of the four-day meeting.

Jim Goldie has revealed that Orientor is set for a step up to Group Two class after his big handicap win at York on Saturday.

He is eyeing Thursday's Cork And Orrery Stakes for the improving three-year-old, rather than the Wokingham Stakes 24 hours later - in which he is to run Indian Spark instead.

The Glasgow trainer is happy with the condition of the colt after his short-head defeat of Armagnac in the William Hill Trophy at York under Kieren Fallon.

He said: "He seems fine and travelled up well - we got back around a quarter to 12.

"I think he will probably go for the Cork And Orrery, although if we are struggling to get one of the big boys to ride him we might switch.

"He will get an 8lb penalty in the Wokingham which would make him nearly top-weight as a three-year-old."

Whatever Orientor's fate, Goldie has high hopes that Indian Spark will make the eight-and-a-half-hour journey worthwhile this week.

"He goes in the Wokingham and Tony Culhane has been booked to ride," the trainer said.

"He has been trained for the race since the start of the season. He ran very well in it last year. He was hampered and finished eighth - with luck in running he would definitely have been placed."

Ted Durcan has been handed back the mount on Wokingham favourite Ellens Academy.

The dual champion jockey of Dubai takes over from Carl Lowther, who steered the gelding to a six-length victory at Doncaster last time out.

He will be seeking a first Royal Ascot win on the six-year-old who tops the Tote's betting on Friday's £100,000 handicap at 8 to 1.

Durcan will also ride stable companion Tedburrow in Thursday's Cork And Orrery Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Kinane has been booked to renew his partnership with Wokingham second favourite Capricho, having been on board when the gelding finished a place ahead of Ellens Academy in fourth at York.

St James's Palace Stakes betting:

William Hill: 7-2 Dandoun, 9-2 Noverre, 5-1 Black Minnaloushe, Minardi, 8-1 Malhub, Tamburlaine, Vahoramix, 12-1 Olden Timnes, 16-1 No Excuses Needed, 20-1 Keltos, 100-1 Darwin.

Coral Eurobet: 7-2 Dandoun, 4-1 Black Minaloushe, Noverre, 6-1 Vahorimix, 7-1 Tamburlaine, Minardi, Malhub, 8-1 Olden Times, 121 Keltos, 14-1 No Excuse Needed, 33-1 Darwin.