Cockney Rebel works for Royal Ascot

Trainer Geoff Huffer issued a confident bulletin on Wednesday about dual

classic hero COCKNEY REBEL (Val Royal [Fr]) as he heads toward Tuesday's St

James's Palace S. (Eng-G1) at Royal Ascot.

Phil Cunningham's English (Eng-G1) and Irish (Ire-G1) Two Thousand Guineas

winner impressed in his exercise spin as he gears up for the mile contest, for

which 11 stood their ground at Wednesday's five-day stage.

"He worked brilliantly and in the last furlong skipped 15 lengths clear of

his regular lead horse Banjo Patterson," the conditioner told PA Sport. "He does

like it quick, but if it's good ground that wouldn't worry me. His time at

Newmarket was the third-best ever and if they dawdle at Ascot it won't faze

him."

Among the opposition on Tuesday will be the selection of a five-strong

declared entry from Ballydoyle, including the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French

Two Thousand Guineas) (Fr-G1) first and fourth ASTRONOMER ROYAL (Danzig) and

Excellent Art (Pivotal), respectively, as well as Newmarket Guineas third DUTCH

ART (Medicean).

In the Queen Anne S. (Eng-G1), GEORGE WASHINGTON (Ire) (Danehill) will make

his eagerly-awaited comeback against a maximum of eight rivals including CESARE

(Machiavellian), who was supplemented on Wednesday.

"We've been happy with George so far," Aidan O'Brien told the Racing Post.

"He's well and the plan is to start him back on Tuesday."

Other notables to stand their ground against last year's English Two Thouand

Guineas and Queen Elizabeth II S. (Eng-G1) winner are Lockinge S. (Eng-G1)

scorer RED EVIE (Intikhab) and RAMONTI (Martino Alonso), beaten a head when

second in that May 19 Newbury contest.