The Shergar Cup Day finale at Ascot could hinge entirely on the outcome of the 4.30pm Shergar Cup Mile, with team and individual honours both at stake.
Ryan Moore takes the ride on Ian Williams-trained Ozat, who shapes as one of the most compelling contenders in the race.
Ozat caught the eye at Goodwood’s competitive Golden Mile last week, travelling powerfully inside the final two furlongs before repeatedly encountering traffic problems.
His jockey chose to ease him up inside the final furlong due to the interference, meaning his finishing position of 15th bears no relation to his actual effort.
Having now dropped a further two pounds in the handicap following that run, Ozat looks well treated heading into this contest at Ascot.
He also has proven form at the track, running a respectable race in the Royal Hunt Cup in June, which adds further substance to his claims here.
Two others are worth including alongside Ozat in a World Pool Quinella, starting with William Haggas-trained Bullet Point, who has not hit the heights in two runs this season.
Bullet Point finished down the field in competitive handicaps at Newmarket and York back in May, but his mark has since dropped to just a pound above the level at which he won a valuable York handicap last year, with Christophe Lemaire booked to ride.
Ebt’s Guard finished ahead of Ozat in the Goodwood Golden Mile but enjoyed considerably more luck in running, and had previously shown consistent form with a fourth at Newbury, fourth in the Royal Hunt Cup and third at Sandown.
That strong sequence of placed efforts in competitive mile handicaps suggests a return to form would put Ebt’s Guard firmly in contention alongside the others.
Turning to the earlier Shergar Cup Stayers Handicap at 2.10pm, Mountain Road looks set for a big run under Japanese legend Yutaka Take.
This versatile seven-year-old demonstrated his tactical flexibility when grinding opponents down from the front at Newmarket two years ago and has also shown he can swoop from the rear.
Those hold-up tactics paid off handsomely when Mountain Road triumphed at Thirsk last time out, suggesting he arrived at Ascot in career-best form.
Ian Williams-trained Dancing In Paris, back at his optimum trip, and last-start winner Marnier are worth including alongside Mountain Road in a World Pool Quinella for those seeking a more substantial payout.