White Birch and Auguste Rodin are set to renew their rivalry in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot on Wednesday. It's also a Breeders' Cup Challenge series race. 

Last season, Auguste Rodin, a dual Derby winner, had the upper hand in their Classic encounters. However, this year, John Joseph Murphy's grey, White Birch, has triumphed in all three of his races. Despite this, bookmakers favor Aidan O’Brien’s Auguste Rodin, expecting him to improve from his run in the Tattersalls Gold Cup.

French contenders Horizon Dore, Zarakem, and Blue Rose Cen are also in the mix. Meanwhile, Inspiral, likely to compete in the Queen Anne Stakes on the opening day, joins Alflaila and 2020 winner Lord North among the 13 confirmed entries.

James Tate’s Royal Dress, a luckless third in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom, has been added to the Group Two Duke of Cambridge Stakes. Breege, the winner of that race, trained by John and Sean Quinn, is also among the 19 potential runners. Surprisingly, Aidan O’Brien does not have a representative, but his son Joseph might field Goldana, Gregarina, and Rogue Millennium, last year's winner when with Tom Clover. Other notable contenders include John and Thady Gosden’s Laurel and Willie McCreery’s Ocean Jewel.

The Queen Mary Stakes promises a large field with 36 young entries, including Wesley Ward’s Burning Pine and Saturday Flirt, Aidan O’Brien’s Fairy Godmother, and Andrew Balding’s Kassaya, a half-sister to Guineas winner Chaldean. In the Queen’s Vase, Aidan O’Brien has seven of the 17 entries, including the promising Highbury, who recently won by seven and a half lengths. Balding’s Derby fifth Sayedaty Sadaty and Roger Varian’s Defiance are also noteworthy.

For the Royal Hunt Cup, 66 horses remain in contention, with last year’s runner-up Sonny Liston heading the weights. Other top contenders include Ouzo, Holloway Boy, Notre Belle Bete, and Beshtani.