Aidan O'Brien, who is engaged in a battle with Michael Stoute for the British trainers' title, is responsible for eight of the 17 horses confirmed for Saturday's Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.

The Ballydoyle trainer's team is headed by National Stakes winner George Washington and Horatio Nelson, who lifted the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp.

Amigoni, Arabian Prince, Aussie Rules, Dylan Thomas, Ivan Denisovich and Marcus Andronicus complete the O'Brien party in the Group One race for two-year-olds over seven furlongs.

Opera Cape, runner-up to Horatio Nelson in France, has been left in by Sylvester Kirk, while Sir Percy could defend his unbeaten record for Marcus Tregoning.

Barry Hills is double-handed with Killybegs and Red Clubs, and David Loder could bid for a final big-race success before he retires at the end of the season with the unbeaten Primary, owned by Highclere Thoroughbred Racing.

Mark Johnston, who sent out Shamardal to lift this prize 12 months ago, could run Prince of Light, with the possibles completed by Kevin Ryan's Palace

Episode, Close To You from the Terry Mills yard and Humungous, trained by Charlie Egerton.

O'Brien has lifted two British trainers' title (2001 and 2002) and is leaving no stone unturned in a bid for his third.The most valuable race remaining is Saturday's Champion Stakes, worth £203,000 to the winner, and O'Brien relies on Coral-Eclipse and Irish Champion Stakes hero Oratorio as well as Ace and Mullins Bay.

Rob Roy and Chic, both trained by Stoute, plus Godolphin's Echo Of Light and French raider Pinson from Jean Claude Rouget's stable were supplemented yesterday and take the number of horses confirmed for the Group One feature over a mile and a quarter to 17. Stoute has a third acceptor in Maraahel, while Godolphin have also left in Layman.

There are three other potential French challengers in Prospect Park, Touch Of Land and Pride, with the smart Jim Bolger-trained mare Alexander Goldrun also on the list.

The Michael Jarvis-trained Rakti, the winner two years ago, has stood his ground, and Luca Cumani's Alkaased could turn up after being forced to miss the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe when a cut became infected.

Brian Meehan's David Junior and the Barry Hills-trained Whazzat complete the confirmations.

Peeress, who tasted Group One glory at Newmarket when winning the Sun Chariot Stakes earlier this month, is among 24 confirmations for the VC Bet Challenge Stakes on the same card. The four-year-old filly, owned by the Cheveley Park Stud, is one of two possibles from the Stoute stable, the other being Arakan. It was Peeress who propelled Stoute back to the top of the trainers' championship after her win in the Sun Chariot.

Godolphin have three acceptors - Queen Elizabeth II Stakes third Blatant, Firebreak and Council Member - in the Group Two race over seven furlongs.

O'Brien, who is trailing Stoute by almost £60,000, can choose from Emerald Cat and Tiger Dance.