Karl Burke’s Royal Champion will be aiming to uphold the reputation of Yorkshire-trained horses in Friday’s Group 2 Bahrain International Trophy.

Northern handlers have won three of the last four renewals of the Bahrain International Trophy, with Lord Glitters taking the race in 2021 and Spirit Dancer completing a double for Richard Fahy in 2023 and 2024.

"It's a bit of a different angle, isn't it?" says Burke.

"You don't expect that when you come out to these international races, but Yorkshire trainers have won three out of four running's. Hopefully Royal Champion can run a big race.

"He's very straightforward, he works well at home. You're trying not to do too much with him; he's a lovely animal and has a huge amount of ability."

The Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum-trained gelding has enjoyed a long and varied career, formerly trained by Roger Varian before a short stint in Australia. He finished second in the Group 2 Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley before returning to the UK for new handler Karl Burke.

A winner of the Listed Quebec Stakes at Lingfield on stable debut, the gelding has since scored in the Group 2 York Stakes and placed third in the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes behind Delacroix.

"I thought he ran a great race in the Irish Champion Stakes, only beaten three lengths. Delacroix actually cut him up in the first hundred yards, I think he would have been a length or so closer to him otherwise.

"It was a great run at York when he won - he travelled really strongly that day and quickened up well. That sort of form should be good enough to go close."

Royal Champion will be Karl Burke's first runner in the Bahrain International Trophy, one of six European representatives in Friday's contest.

"Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum was keen for me to bring him to Bahrain, but he'd like to save him for next season in the UK. It would be great to try and win a Group 1 with him, but he's a really good Group 2 horse.

"I'm really impressed with Bahrain. The track is in great condition which should suit, a good galloping track with a long, flat straight. Ideally, we'll sit in the box seat but I'm unsure where the pace will come from. If they go slow, they're probably playing into our hands."