Juddmonte International: Your essential runner-by-runner guide

It was a shame to hear St Mark’s Basilica picked up an injury on Sunday morning which ruled the impressive Coral-Eclipse winner out of the Juddmonte International.

Thankfully, Aidan O’Brien has decided to declare Love, who is certainly not a bad substitute, and the five-time Group One winner will bid to get back to winning ways on Wednesday following her King George defeat.

The York showpiece has been won by some superstars in the past, and it is hard to believe it was nine years ago that Frankel floored his rivals when cruising to victory on the Knavesmire.

Re-watching a feature Racing TV did on his victory (below) brought back some fond memories, and there will also be some special Juddmonte features focusing on Frankel shown on Racing TV during York this week, which will certainly be worth looking out for.

Don't forget, every race from the Welcome To Yorkshire Ebor Festival will be shown live on Racing TV, and below is a guide to the main event on the opening day.

Trainer: Kevin Ryan. Jockey: Andrea Atzeni. Official rating: 113. Best odds: 28-1.

Didn’t quite scale the heights he was expected to last year having finished fifth in the 2,000 Guineas and was gelded ahead of this season.

However, after disappointing again on his seasonal debut, he benefited from a wind op when returning to form in the Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot and was narrowly denied close home in the Sky Bet York Stakes last time out.

The latter contest was a messy race, though, and although he finished in front of Mohaafeth, things did not go to plan for that rival, who re-opposes on Wednesday.

Based upon his past two outings, this distance looks his optimum trip and he remains unexposed over ten furlongs. Drying ground will also be in his favour and both his trainer and jockey have been operating at a strike-rate of over 20 per cent in the past fortnight.

He is worth another go at this level, but will need to up his game to be competitive against rivals who have stronger form.

Trainer: John and Thady Gosden. Jockey: David Egan. Official rating: 124. Best odds: 2-1.

High-class colt who beat some of the best middle-distance horses in the world when successful in the Saudi Cup and Dubai Sheema Classic earlier this year and has matched that form on his two outings in Britain since.

The lack of a recent run took its toll when he was defeated by St Mark’s Basilica on his return in the Coral-Eclipse where he raced exuberantly and travelled like the winner before his effort petered out.

Despite finishing second, he arguably produced a career best when trying to concede 11lb to Adayar in the King George last time out and will lock horns with Love, who finished third at Ascot, again now his Coral-Eclipse conqueror has been ruled out.

A return to this trip should also suit, he is the highest rated contender in the field and the Gosden team remain in fine form, so he could prove hard to beat.

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien. Jockey: Ryan Moore. Official rating: 120. Best odds: 9-4.

Dual Classic winner last year having captured the 1,000 Guineas and Oaks before completing a Group One hat-trick in the Yorkshire Oaks at this meeting.

Endured an absence of 300 days, with connections keen to avoid soft ground, before returning with a gutsy success in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes where she was expected to improve for the outing.

It is a slight concern the form of that race has taken a couple of knocks since and, despite winning impressively, she was beating inferior rivals last season.

Aidan O’Brien believes the race was not run to suit in the King George when she was no match for Adayar and Mishriff, so with no confirmed front runner in the line-up, the daughter of Galileo could bid to make all, just like she did when successful at Royal Ascot.

She again receives a 3lb fillies' allowance from Mishriff which makes the pair closely matched on the ratings, and team Ballydoyle are seeking their seventh victory in this contest, so she looks sure to be in the mix.

Trainer: William Haggas. Jockey: Tom Marquand. Official rating: 110. Best odds: 14-1.

Improving colt who has only had five starts and showed strong form when defeating Adayar at Sandown in April.

It is fair to say Godolphin’s superstar has improved considerably since then, but Alenquer also took a big step forward to win the King Edward on his next start and it is unlikely we have seen the best of him yet.

He had an unfavourable draw when third behind Hurricane Lane in a French Group One last time out and was left with plenty to do from his position, so is better than the bare result, although the drop back in trip here is not certain to suit.

William Haggas has been operating at a strike-rate of 35 per cent in the past fortnight and his charge is a smart colt in the making, but this may prove a step too far at this stage of his career against strong opposition.

Trainer: Jim Bolger. Jockey: Kevin Manning. Official rating: 118. Best odds: 16-1.

Irish 2,000 Guineas winner who arrives here with question marks to answer having disappointed on his past two starts at this level.

His breeding suggested he would relish a step up to 12 furlongs, so it was a shade disappointing he could not land a blow in the Derby, or Irish Derby and drops back in trip here.

Has shown a liking for give underfoot, and needs to prove he is capable of showing his best on quicker ground plus Jim Bolger has had just two winners from 31 runners in the past fortnight.

Although it is too early to write Mac Swiney off yet, it is easier to make a case for others and he needs to bounce back.

Trainer: William Haggas. Jockey: Jim Crowley. Official rating: 112. Best odds: 6-1.

Progressing at a rate of knots having won a handicap off a rating of 85 in April and proved he has a touch of class when successful in the Hampton Court at Royal Ascot.

Arguably should have won when third in the Sky Bet York Stakes last time out as his pacemaker did not go quick enough, and he was forced to make up an abundance of ground when the pace quickened, which took its toll late on.

Connections are adamant their three-year-old is a quick-ground horse, so drying conditions will be in his favour and he receives a handy weight-for-age allowance.

One slight concern is how much he has found off the bridle on his past two starts after travelling powerfully into contention, and he is likely to need delivering late.

Despite the fact he is an improver, the Frankel colt needs to prove he is up to this grade and the general 6-1 on offer does look a shade short, given the calibre of his opposition.

Trainer: Andrew Balding. Jockey: Oisin Murphy. Official rating: 119. Best odds: 6-1.

Dual Group One winner who produced a career best to defeat Poetic Flare in the Sussex Stakes last time out, and a repeat of that performance would give her a good chance here.

The big question mark she has to answer is will she stay this new trip?

She is by Norfolk and Prix Morny winner No Nay Never, but the fact she is a half-sister to a nine-furlong winner, and her dam’s sire finished runner-up in two Group Ones over ten furlongs provides hope she will.

She has also won on heavy ground over a mile at Ascot and good ground or better will make this less of a stamina test.

If she does stay, then expect Andrew Balding’s stable star to be in the mix.

Tactics are likely to play a big part in the result here. I would not be surprised if Ryan Moore attempts to make all aboard Love, who is proven over further, and turn the race into a stamina test, which would not suit Alcohol Free.

The Sussex Stakes winner impressed at Goodwood and faster conditions should help her see out the trip, but that is a big question mark.

Everything will need to fall right for Mohaafeth to score, and the Frankel colt is yet to contest a Group One, while Alenquer, Juan Elcano and Mac Swiney all need to improve to land a blow.

Globetrotter MISHRIFF is the contender with the strongest form and, based upon his previous two efforts, the drop back in trip will not be an issue.

He faced a difficult task conceding weight to Derby winner Adayar in the King George but finished ahead of Love there, and a repeat of that effort will make him the one to beat here.