Sunday's best for Rouget as he bids to be a prince

That could play into the hands of a horse that possesses a change of gear and Never On Sunday can quicken in tremendous style. It helps that the prolific Pau-based Rouget, who has been one of the big four trainers in France for over a decade and is looking to win the title in his country for the first time, is in sparkling form.

Sir Michael Stoute is also in rich form, as four winners from nine runners between Thursday and Sunday prove.

He saddles Tartan Bearer, who was second to New Approach in the Derby last year, having previously won the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York. Tartan Bearer beat Pipedreamer more comfortably than the short-head margin would suggest on his seasonal debut in a Sandown Group 3.

And it remains to be seen if Stoute has made the right decision to duck the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh last month in favour of this top-class renewal.

Vision D'Etat could be the chief rival. Last year's French Derby winner and Arc fifth is also capable of quickening off a moderate pace.

He will likely be produced with a very late run, since he is a horse that has tended to idle in the past when he gets to the front.

But he does possess Group 1-winning form - he was a comfortable scorer in the Prix Ganay at Longchamp last time - and has the services of Olivier Peslier, arguably still the finest jockey in Europe.