Ireland looks to hold all the aces as they bid to continue their domination in Saturday’s Club Godolphin Cesarewitch Handicap at Newmarket.

Irish-trained runners have landed the prize in six of the last seven seasons and with the top in the betting following Thursday's declaration stage, those from across the Irish Sea will be hopeful of continuing the trend.

Connections of last year's winner Alphonse Le Grande who currently heads the betting, will be looking for a more straightforward success this time around. The six-year-old stayed on strongly to finish first past the post in last year's renewal before being disqualified by the whip committee for Jamie Powell's overuse of the stick. However, following a successful appeal, Alphonse Le Grande, who was at the time trained by Cathy O'Leary due to A J Martin being suspended, was reinstated at the winner.

Now officially back in the care of AJ Martin, Alphonse Le Grande will head to Newmarket's staying handicap 6lb higher this time around but there's no doubt that he looks to be coming to the boil at the right time after an eye-catching fifth-place finish behind subsequent Group 2 Park Hill winner and Group 1 Prix de Royallieu runner-up Santorini Star.

Charles Byrnes landed the prize in 2022 thanks to a commanding performance from Run For Oscar and this season he'll be solely represented by Reverend Hubert. Following a successful spell over hurdles, his seven-year-old son of Zoffany put his hat firmly into the ring with a facile eight-length victory in the recognised course and distance trial late last month and under a 4lb penalty, his claims are obvious for all to see with Silvestre de Sousa booked to do the steering.

Whilst the all-conquering Willie Mullins is better known for his exploits in the National Hunt sphere, his record in this staying handicap on the level is not to be sniffed at, with the Closutton-based maestro recording three straight victories between 2018-2020.

Mullins will saddle a trio of contenders this year, with both Hipop De Loire and Bunting towards the top of the betting. The former, who will be ridden by recent Cambridgeshire-winning rider Clifford Lee, will need to give 7lb all round now back in a handicap after finishing third in the Group 2 Doncaster Cup, while the latter steps back up in trip following a staying-on fifth in a premier Leopardstown handicap last month.

Andrew Balding's progressive Belgravian could only finish third behind Reverend Hubert in the trial, but he looks like the pick of the home contingent, with Beylerbeyi, Divine Comedy and Manxman others to note.