Aidan O'Brien's domination of the Heinz 57 Phoenix Stakes has led to Cashmans taking the drastic step of quoting his entire entry of 11 horses at 6 to 4 to win Sunday's big race.
Just 10 other entries remain in the Group One contest, but O'Brien has won the race for the last two years and his plans for another repeat grew clearer yesterday.
"Mick Kinane will probably be on Freud, and La Vida Loca is the most likely filly to run. I'll probably have one or two others in the race too," said O'Brien.
Cashmans are taking no chances, however, and a spokesman said: "We don't really know what the Aidan O'Brien camp are doing as regards plans for Sunday. We've heard he could be running three or four, or more, and we feel it's just easier to quote the stable."
Such a move is a hark back to the halcyon days of Vincent O'Brien, who used to advise punters to "back the stable" as the public puzzled over which of his horses were the genuine classic article.
There will be a strong British challenge on Sunday, including the Norfolk Stakes-winning filly, Superstar Leo, and yesterday the unbeaten Cherry Hinton winner, Dora Carrington, was confirmed a runner by the Peter Harris stable.
Pat Eddery is set to detour from his chase of the British jockeys' title to take the ride on Dora Carrington, who beat the subsequent Princess Margaret Stakes winner, Enthused, at Newmarket.
Eddery has already won the Heinz three times, with Danehill Dancer (1995), Digamist (1987) and Achieved in 1981. The 10times champion was also just beaten in a vintage renewal of the race in 1986 when Minstrella edged out Forest Flower.
John Murtagh has been confirmed the jockey for the Mick Channon-trained outsider Silca Legend. Murtagh has already hit the Group race mark for Channon this year, having scored on Pan Jammer in the Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh.
Cashmans Bet: 6/4 The Aidan O'Brien stable, 2 Dora Carrington, 9/4 Superstar Leo, 16 Longueville Legend, 20 Fractice Royal 25 Prince Of Blues, Speedy Gee, Silca Legend, La Stellina, 100 Ameras and Leaffoney.
