Clive Cox, the trainer of Golden Horde, has a special reason for wanting to land the hotly-contested G1 Commonwealth Cup (1200m) at Royal Ascot on Friday (19 June).

Three years ago Harry Angel, trained by Cox, was narrowly beaten in the same race. Cox is hoping that the well-fancied Golden Horde can win Friday’s feature race but to do so he will have to beat Harry Angel’s half-brother, Pierre Lapin, also strongly fancied.

Last year Golden Horde put together a string of fine performances in high class company, including success in the G2 Richmond Stakes (1200m) at Goodwood and a close second in the G1 Middle Park Stakes (1200m). Those efforts make him a serious candidate.

“Golden Horde had a great year last year on a variety of ground,” Cox said. “He was a bit green at Royal Ascot in the Coventry Stakes but nowadays he’s a more mature, relaxed horse. Normally I’d have given him a prep race but decided that this year it was best to go straight to Ascot. He is in great form and I’m very happy with him.”

Golden Horde has the edge for experience over likely favourite Pierre Lapin, who has been handled with typical patience by Roger Varian. After winning impressively on his debut last May, Varian resisted the temptation to press on with his potential star and his patience paid off when, after a four-month break, Pierre Lapin won the G2 Mill Reef Stakes (1200m).

Afterwards, Varian said, “Pierre Lapin is still not the finished article. He is a horse for next year. When he gets stronger I think he’ll get faster.”

To add to the intrigue, US trainer Wesley Ward fires Kimari at Friday’s feature race.  Ward has an impressive record at Royal Ascot with 10 wins in all and Kimari was only beaten a head by Raffle Prize in last year’s G2 Queen Mary Stakes (1000m) at the meeting.

The Munnings filly stepped up to six furlongs for a Listed race win on sloppy dirt at Oaklawn Park in early April.

“Kimari is the only one of my team who isn’t disadvantaged if it rains,” Ward said. “She coped well on softer going last year and ran a huge, valiant race. She’s a proven horse. I think we have a big chance.”

There are plenty of other able opponents in the Commonwealth Cup, a race created only five years ago, in contrast to the G2 Hardwicke Stakes (2392m), which dates back to 1879.

Anthony Van Dyck, last year’s G1 Derby (2405m) winner at Epsom, is set to start favourite for the powerful Aidan O’Brien stable but although he has shown further high-class form, he has not won in six subsequent outings. Earlier this month he finished a creditable but comfortably beaten runner-up in a less-than vintage edition of the G1 Coronation Cup (2400m) at Newmarket.

Elarqam has solid form but has been found wanting each time he has contested G1, his best being a good third to Japan in the G1 Juddmonte International Stakes over 10 furlongs at York last August. He made an encouraging recent return when narrowly beaten by Lord North in a G3 at Haydock over 2038m. Friday will be the five-year-old’s first attempt at 2400m.

On breeding Elarqam is not certain to appreciate his first attempt at a mile and a half but trainer Mark Johnston’s son and assistant, Charlie, believes the Frankel entire, who is out of Johnston’s crack miler Attraction, might just benefit from the step up.

He said, “It will be interesting and there is a strong possibility that it will bring out more improvement. He will definitely come on for that first run.”