Tuesday's St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot at York

Tuesday's St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot at <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />York (3.45) looks set to be an intriguing affair. Godolphin's best three-year-olds, Dubawi and Shamardal, square up against Irish raiders Ad Valorem, Indesatchel and Oratorio. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> Shamardal is bound to be a warm order after landing the French Derby at Chantilly nine days ago, which followed his pillar-to-post victory in the French 2,000 Guineas at Longchamp. However, Indesatchel was a desperately unlucky runner up in the latter race and is strongly fancied to set the record straight by exacting revenge this time. The David Wachman-trained colt had a hapless task from stall 14 there in a race where the winner, third and fourth were drawn in stalls one, two and three respectively. The son of Danehill Dancer cut through the field like a knife through hot butter, before being stopped in his tracks at around the two-furlong marker. He was then switched round the houses and sprouted wings, only to fail by a rapidly diminishing head to gain a deserved victory. He has not had a race since so will line up a fresh horse, yet is priced up at 10-3 by Bet 365, who have Shamardal, who is bound to feel the effects of making all to win the 1m 2½f French Derby, marked up as clear 15-8 favourite. Personally this doesn't make much sense to me. But if they want to be relieved of some of the money in their coffers who am I to complain? Much of the doubt regarding Indesatchel is borne out by his apparent need for plenty of cut in the ground. His trainer has often re-iterated the point that his charge needs easy going, but he cannot be that perturbed by the prospect of good-to-firm going, as he simply would not have declared the colt at the two-day declaration stage on Sunday. But he did. The sharp mile over the Knavesmire's gradients will be perfect for Indesatchel who possesses plenty of speed. Plus he has been drawn right next to Shamardal so will benefit from getting a nice lead through before pouncing late on. For his part Shamardal will not be easy to pass, though. He is a tough, genuine colt, who was rated champion European juvenile last season after his victory in the Dewhurst Stakes. With Frankie Dettori suspended, Kerrin McEvoy will be aboard Dubawi, and Kevin Darley will be reacquainted with Shamardal, whom he partnered on each of the colts three starts last year when he was trained by Mark Johnston. Dubawi banished the memory of his 2,000 Guineas disappointment at Newmarket by coasting home ahead of Oratorio and Democratic Deficit in the Irish equivalent at The Curragh. For a horse that didn't stay, he was far from disgraced when finishing eight-lengths third to Motivator in the Epsom Derby, but, like Shamardal, he is bound to be feeling the effects of his recent exertions. The ground concern is a genuine one as far as Dubawi is concerned, as he definitely looked uncomfortable on fast going at Newmarket where he was wandering about profusely under pressure. All in all, the percentage call has to be to oppose him. Oratorio was my fancy for the Irish 2,000 Guineas where he was badly outpaced in the early stages before finishing well to be second without ever posing any real threat to Dubawi. He too comes here on the back of a run in the Derby in which he was most disappointing, finishing a well-beaten tenth of the 13 runners. His trainer Aidan O'Brien has elected to fit the son of Danehill with blinkers, and it will be interesting to see if the headgear helps to sharpen him up, although I don't think that he will be able to match the top three for pace in any case. Ad Valorem looked a potentially top-class colt in the making when running on strongly to beat Rebuttal in the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket in October. It would be unwise to overlook him but he has been absent since then and it's a big ask for him to return from a six-month absence to win this, while he also has to prove that he gets a mile having yet to race beyond six-furlongs. Betting verdict: 2pts win Indestachel @ 10/3 (Bet 365)