Nick Littmoden will break new ground when Cretan Gift tackles the Group Three Phoenix Sprint Stakes at Leopardstown on Sunday. The trainer, based at Wolverhampton racecourse, explained yesterday: "He will be my first runner in Ireland and my first in a Group race. He is really well and is a probable runner. Jason Weaver will ride."

Cretan Gift was fourth in the Hackwood Stakes at Newbury last month but finished last of four when favourite for a conditions event at Chester last Sunday.

"We just want to forget Sunday," Littmoden admitted. "We gave him a bit too much to do. We switched him off too much. He had finished fourth in a Listed race at Newbury previously which was a cracking effort and looking at Sunday's race it seems of the same standard.

"He's mad fresh since Sunday and I expect him to go well.

Other British acceptors for the six-furlong event include the John Dunlop-trained Indian Rocket, third in the King George Stakes at Goodwood last week.

Princely Heir was yesterday given the go-ahead for a return trip to Ireland on the same card. Maktoum Al Maktoum's colt will bid for the Group One Heinz 57 Phoenix Stakes. The Ripon and Beverley winner will be having his first run since finishing third behind Lady Alexander and King of Kings in the Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh last month.