Palace Pier will be hoping to continue his fine start to his career, in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury this afternoon.

The four-year-old, who is trained by Hove-born trainers John and Thady Gosden has barely put a foot wrong in his career date, with the only blot coming when he found himself stuck in the mud at Ascot on Champions Day.

Prior to that he had won the St James’s Palace Stakes and Prix Jacques le Marois, having remarkably started off his three-year-old season in a handicap at Newcastle after connections opted to miss the 2000 Guineas – what a price he was that day at odds against.

If there were any question marks after Ascot he found all the right answers on his reappearance at Sandown last month, blitzing his rivals by eight lengths and more, looking in tremendous order.

However, despite have Frankie Dettori on board, Palace Pier will face some tough competition this afternoon.

Their biggest threat to victory is Lope Y Fernandez, who is ridden by Brighton-born jockey Ryan Moore.

The four-year-old, who is trained by Aidan O’Brien won on it’s last outings at Leopardstown last month.