Dabaya is Ascot hopeful

After the dramatics of Epsom, the focus now switches to next week's Royal Ascot festival, where a strong Irish raiding party is set to appear. John Oxx intends sending three horses, spearheaded by Dabaya, who will have the third race of her career in the Ribblesdale Stakes.

Winner of her debut at Navan, Dabaya ran second to Risk Material at Curragh last time and Oxx said yesterday: "She should come on a good bit for that. It was a toughish race for a second run and she should be suited by the mile and a half and the track at Ascot."

The Curragh trainer also intends running Winona in the Group One Coronation Stakes, which he won in 1995 with Ridgewood Pearl, and Winged Hussar in the Bessborough Handicap.

Aidan O'Brien has yet to finalise his team but intended runners include the two-year-old Bugatti Reef in the Norfolk Stakes and Bianconi, who has a choice of engagements headed by the Cork & Orrery Stakes over six furlongs.

Dermot Weld's Tattersalls Gold Cup runner-up, Stage Affair, is a possible runner in the Hardwicke Stakes.