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El Habeeb looks set for a run in the 2m4f Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup, which is the feature race on Thursday of the Royal Ascot meeting.

Trained by Kevin Philippart De Foy, the four-year-old is a former course winner, having scored by half a length in the Listed Noel Murless Stakes over 1m 6f last September.

The son of Al Rifai struggled in Black Type company in the first half of his three-year-old campaign yet began to show improvement when recording a maiden victory in a 1m 4f novice event at Wolverhampton on the all-weather last August.

El Habeeb was not disgraced when sixth in the Group 1 St Leger at Doncaster in September. He has posted two good efforts so far this year with a Meydan fifth (2m Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup) in March before a third in the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes at the Berkshire venue in early May, behind Coltrane and Wise Eagle. It will be the four-year-old's first attempt at the longer trip.

Trainer Kevin Philippart De Foy gave an update: "At the moment that [Gold Cup] is the plan. He ran well in the Sagaro. He's fairly well one paced and doesn't have that change of gear he needed at Ascot to go and pick up the second.

"The winner was quite impressive and he deserves to be the favourite, but I thought we were a little bit unlucky on the inside and I think we deserve to be there.

"He settles very well at any pace and he always stays on in his races. He wouldn't have the biggest stride, but he keeps galloping all day, so I don't think the distance will be an issue.

"The form of his last few races stacks up well. He's got plenty to find to be competitive, but I think he will be competitive for a place."

El Habeeb is a general 25/1 shot for the Ascot Gold Cup. He also has an entry in the Group 1 Irish St. Leger at the Curragh in September.