Okeechobee has been supplemented to the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on Sunday where he looks set to take on 2023 Derby hero Auguste Rodin.
The Harry Charlton-trained unexposed five-year-old was not among the five declarations for the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard, staged on Thursday evening, this morning with instead connections opting to pay the €50,000 to pitch him into Group 1 company at the Curragh on Sunday.
A winner on his reappearance in the Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown last month, the Juddmonte-owned challenger will be stepping into Group 1 company for the first time, and he'll face a maximum of eleven rivals after entries were revealed this afternoon.
Aidan O'Brien's dual Derby winner Auguste Rodin could be joined by stablemates Luxembourg, who landed the prize twelve months ago, and Hans Anderson.
"Auguste Rodin will go for the Tattersalls Gold Cup, that is the plan and we're very happy with him. He's doing everything good so far," explained the Ballydoyle handler last weekend.
"Hopefully we will run something along with him to make it an even pace."
Adrian Murray looks set to run both Crypto Force and the exciting Elegant Man, who was last seen when defying top weight in a valuable handicap on all-weather finals day at Newcastle.
The recent Mooresbridge Stakes winner White Birch features among the field of eleven for trainer John Joseph Murphy, with Joseph O'Brien responsible for two entries courtesy of Goldana and Lumiere Rock.
Johnny Murtagh's Mashhoor completes the field of eleven at the five-day entry stage.
Five remain in Brigadier Gerard Stakes
With Harry Charlton's Okeechobee poised to make the trip across the Irish Sea this Sunday, just five were left in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes.
Bahrain triple crown winner Isle Of Jura will begin his Melbourne Cup preparation on Thursday evening as he takes on the likes of potential Royal Ascot contender Royal Rhyme, who makes his first start since finishing fifth in the Group 1 Champion Stakes at Ascot in October.
Certain Lad, Elegancia and Miss Cantik round out the field of five.
Elsewhere on the card, Trueshan, Sweet William and Caius Chorister headline seven declarations in the Group 3 Henry II Stakes, while impressive Newbury debut winner Hawaiian puts his Royal Ascot credentials on the line for trainer Richard Hannon in the Listed National Stakes.
Seven horses have been declared for the Listed Heron Stakes with the beautifully-bred half-brother to Frankel, Kikkuli, set to make his first start in stakes company.
