Danak has been installed a 5 to 1 shot by the bookmakers in Chicago ahead of tomorrow night's Arlington Million, but an outside draw appears to have done the Irish horse's chance no favours.
The John Oxx-trained colt has been given stall eight of the eight runners, which can be a disadvantage on the mile-and-a-quarter turf track at Arlington.
Despite that, Danak is rated the best of the three-strong European challenge for the Million.
The Grade One California-based After Market is the 2 to 1 favourite. Last year's winner, The Tin Man, is second favourite as he bids to become the first in the Million's 25-year history to win the race back-to-back. The only horse ever to win it twice was John Henry in 1981 and 1984.
Nine runners will line up for the 290,000 Secretariat Stakes, for which the Irish pair Admiralofthefleet and Fleeting Shadow are in stalls two and three respectively.
Aidan O'Brien's Admiralofthefleet, winner of the Dee Stakes at Chester and fifth in the Eclipse on his last start, is a 3 to 1 second favourite behind the Virginia Derby winner Red Giant, trained in the US by Todd Pletcher.
Fleeting Shadow, runner up to Trinity College at Fairyhouse last month, is a 15 to 1 shot to continue Dermot Weld's and Pat Smullen's excellent run of success at Arlington in recent years.
Smullen and his colleagues Michael Kinane and John Murtagh face an overnight dash from Chicago back to the Curragh for Sunday's Group One feature, the Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes.
The ante-post 2,000 Guineas favourite Henrythenavigator is set to head the field, which will have at least one cross-channel raider after Jeremy Noseda's confirmation yesterday that Captain Royale will take his chance.
But Henrythenavigator might have to compete in the star quality stakes on Sunday with the dual 1,000 Guineas winner Finsceal Beo, who remains a possible for the mile-and-a-quarter UAE Royal Whip Stakes.
The Jim Bolger-trained filly also holds an entry in the Group One Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville on Sunday, but that option was ruled out yesterday.
Bolger is keen to try Finsceal Beo at a mile and a quarter for the first time ahead of a possible tilt at the Irish Champion Stakes next month but will leave a decision as late as possible amid uncertainty over the going at headquarters this weekend.
The four-man team that will represent Ireland in the annual jump jockeys challenge in Australia this month was announced yesterday and includes the Grade One winning rider Andrew Leigh.
The 23-year-old will be joined by Denis Hogan (20), Andrew Lynch (23) and Robbie Moran (24) when the team fly out tomorrow for a series that includes races at the Gawler and Morphettville tracks in Adelaide and at Sandown and Moonee Valley in Melbourne and ends on August 27th.
The team will be sponsored by Horse Racing Ireland, the Turf Club and owners JP McManus and Seán Mulryan.
In other National Hunt news, it has been confirmed the multiple Grade One winner Asian Maze has retired from racing and is in foal to the star stallion Presenting.
Mark Prescott sends the Ayr and Musselburgh winner Artless from his Newmarket stable to Wexford this evening for the amateur riders' race but he could hardly have foreseen the horse having to take on a star jumper like the Galway Hurdle winner Farmer Brown.
Pat Hughes's horse makes a quick reappearance after his career high at Ballybrit last week, and after a controversial defeat by Westlake on a previous start on the flat, his credentials for a follow-up look solid.
The one doubt is that Nina Carberry's mount might be better on the level at less than two miles. If there is a chink there, then the versatile mare Laetitia could be the one to take advantage.
Back To Paris had two undistinguished attempts at hurdling last December but this highly rated flat horse should be worth another go on better ground in the maiden hurdle.
Knysa was narrowly beaten by Alexander Goldmine at Roscommon in May and a repeat of that performance would give Jessica Harrington's filly a solid chance in the 13-furlong maiden.
