Epsom trainer Adam West enjoyed a breakthrough big-race victory as Live In The Dream blazed his way to a shock Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes success at York.

The progressive four-year-old was steadily improving through the ranks this term, having started the season by winning a pair of handicaps, but he was lining up in Group One company for the very first time on the Knavesmire.

Pinging the gates and sent straight to the front in the hands of Sean Kirrane, the son of Prince Of Lir surged his way up the five-furlong track and was not for catching as defending champion and 7-5 favourite Highfield Princess tried in vein to hunt down the surprise 28-1 scorer.

It was not only a first Group One triumph, but a first Group-level victory of any kind for both West and Kirrane as they enjoyed their finest hour in one of the season’s fastest-run contests.

Kinross will go toe-to-toe with Isaac Shelby once again as he defends his Sky Bet City of York Stakes at York on Saturday.

Ralph Beckett’s six-year-old began a four-race winning run in this contest 12 months ago, and arrives at the Knavesmire in rude health having got back to winning ways in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood.

He had to knuckle down to repel the challenge laid down by Isaac Shelby on the Sussex Downs and things will be far from straightforward here as a strong cast of opponents have assembled to attempt to knock Kinross off his perch.

The Group Two event has a hefty £500,000 prize fund and Jamie McCalmont, racing manager for Kinross’ owner Marc Chan, believes York racecourse should be rewarded for providing such a valuable opportunity to participants.

He said: “It’s amazing that York can put up that much prize-money for a Group Two race. They deserve the race to get upgraded to a Group One when they can come up with that sort of money.

“It’s a competitive race for sure, but the win at Goodwood will have given him some confidence.

“He certainly doesn’t owe us anything right now, but as Frankie says, he’s like an ATM machine so let’s hope that will continue.

“It’s a very exciting day for Marc to have three horses (Kinross, Lezoo and Angel Bleu) of that quality running at three different meetings.”

Meanwhile Kinross’ vanquished Goodwood rival is reported to have bounced out of the Lennox Stakes in peak condition and although Isaac Shelby has already achieved a great deal in his short career to date, trainer Brian Meehan thinks the best is still to come.

He said: “He came out of Goodwood in tremendous shape and we’re very much looking forward to it.

“I guess Kinross will be the one to beat, but Sacred is in the race as well and Al Suhail, there are a number with chances and it’s quite rightly a well-supported race as it’s very valuable.

“He is in great shape, he came out of Goodwood the best he has come out any race so far and he’s really starting to mature now. Whatever ground turns up on the day isn’t going to inconvenience him and we’re very happy.”

Sacred failed to land a blow when sent off favourite for this race 12 months ago, but William Haggas’ five-year-old produced a fine effort in defeat when second in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

However, having elected to head here over last week’s Hungerford Stakes on account of ground conditions, connections could be left frustrated once again if forecast showers alter the state of things underfoot.

“I’m a little bit worried by the forecast of rain which wouldn’t suit her because the last time she ran at York she didn’t act on the loose surface. It would be frustrating as we had to miss Newbury,” explained Chris Richardson, managing director for owners Cheveley Park Stud.

“She’s in great form but we’re getting a little bit of a kick in the teeth every time we try to get her conditions.

“Her track record here isn’t ideal. She’s a very talented and maybe a year older she may handle things a bit better. She seems in good heart and the intention is to run, but if we had a deluge we may review it.”

Further down the field behind Sacred at Royal Ascot was Charlie Appleby’s Al Suhail who is a Group Two winner at this distance and will be suited by the return to further, while Charlie Hills’ Mutasaabeq drops back in trip having failed to sparkle in two runs since landing the Group Two bet 365 Mile earlier this term.

Olivia Maralda (fifth) and Covey (ninth) have both been on the sidelines since running in the Jersey Stakes at Ascot, with the later one of two in the race for John and Thady Gosden alongside Audience.

The son of Frankel was sent off favourite when flopping in that Group Three event at the Royal meeting, but Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte, is hoping for a different outcome this time.

He said: “He’s had a nice break from Ascot, it just didn’t pan out for him that day. He went too quick, he went too free on the front end. It’s a big step into a Group Two but John and Thady are happy with him and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do over a fast seven (furlongs).

“He got too warm beforehand and Frankie (Dettori) said he just hit the gate and was running too free, hopefully we’ll be able to be a little bit more patient with him on Saturday and he’ll show up a bit better.”

Lake Forest highlighted his potential star quality when storming to Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes at York.

William Haggas’ charge was sent off 16-1 for the Group Two contest, but he arrived at the Knavesmire with some smart form in the book having finished second to Jasour in the July Stakes earlier in the season.

Archie Watson’s Action Point had led the field along for the majority of the six-furlong event, but it was those on the near side that came to the fore in the closing stages with the son of No Nay Never and Aidan O’Brien’s Windsor Castle second Johannes Brahms bursting clear to dispute the outcome.

It was Tom Marquand’s mount who pulled out extra and powered home to score by a length from the Ballydoyle challenger, with Ralph Beckett’s King’s Gamble a further length back in third. Kylian was the strong-travelling 9-4 favourite, and while ultimately disappointing he twice found trouble in running.

It was the Somerville Lodge handler’s second juvenile winner of the week following Relief Rally’s Lowther success on Thursday and Lake Forest was cut to 10-1 by both Paddy Power and Betfair for the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket next month.

Coltrane gained Royal Ascot revenge on Courage Mon Ami as he delivered a decisive blow in the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup Stakes.

A standing dish in the top staying contests, Andrew Balding’s Sagaro Stakes winner had to play second fiddle to John and Thady Gosden’s new staying star in the Gold Cup at Ascot, but came home strongest this time around to go one better than last year.

Both Coltrane and Courage Mon Ami had no answer to front-running Quickthorn in the Goodwood Cup most recently and the defending Lonsdale Cup champion found himself in his customary position at the head of affairs as the runners rounded the first bend.

Although Frankie Dettori had Courage Mon Ami anchored in rear, the field as a whole were keen not to give Hughie Morrison’s charge too much rope on this occasion and Oisin Murphy in particular took up a stalking position travelling smoothly in mid-division.

Tom Marquand upped the tempo aboard Quickthorn swinging the turn for home but the pack were wise to the move and soon a whole host of contenders emerged to lay down their challenge.

Murphy hit the front abroad Coltrane (11-4) passing the two-furlong pole and although Yorkshire Cup winner Giavellotto and Courage Mon Ami refused dug deep in the closing stages, Coltrane finished full of running to register a one-and-a-half-length success over the staying-on Gold Cup winner, who edged out Marco Botti’s four-year-old for the runner-up spot.

There was to be no fairytale ending for Paul Hanagan at York on Friday as the dual champion jockey bowed out aboard Wootton’Sun in the opening race on the penultimate afternoon of the Ebor Festival.

The 42-year-old announced on Wednesday he had decided to bring his distinguished riding career to an end and it was fitting his long-time ally Richard Fahey provided him with his farewell mount.

The crowds packed around the parade ring to give Hanagan a warm reception as he left the weighing room for the final time and he was clearly emotional as he received a guard of honour from his fellow riders.

Hopes were high the Warrington-born champion of 2010 and 2011 could go out on a high aboard Wootton’Sun, whose sire Wootton Bassett provided Hanagan with his first Group One winner in the 2010 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, but it was not to be.

The four-year-old brought strong form claims to the table in the Sky Bet Handicap, having won the Old Newton Cup at Haydock last month before being beaten a short head by Scampi in a similarly valuable handicap at Ascot a fortnight ago.

But while he travelled well for the first half of the mile-and-a-half contest, he was unable to pick up when asked for maximum effort and he was ultimately well beaten, finishing 12th of 14 runners.

Hanagan said: “Oh wow, it’s very surreal. I’m still in shock with the ovation I got off the crowd round the paddock. It was a ‘wow’ moment and a very, very proud moment for me.

“It wasn’t to be with the last ride, but we all know horse racing isn’t straightforward the whole time and it was just nice to go out like that, and for Richard as well – I owe him a lot.

“I’m going to celebrate with the family. I’m just a bit lost for words and very emotional.

“I’ve been crying my eyes out, I’m not going to lie. I walked the track earlier with my two boys and that was very emotional. They realised the whole magnitude of it all.

“I keep putting it into younger kids that you might be going through a bad time and it might be tough, but if you work really hard it can pay off. That’s certainly what happened to me.

“I think work ethic and a good attitude can get you a long way.”

Among the well wishers in the parade ring was Angus Gold, long-standing racing manager for the Shadwell operation.

Hanagan enjoyed a five-year association as retained rider for the late Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, a spell which saw him claim Classic glory aboard Taghrooda in the 2014 Oaks at Epsom before the duo went on to land the King George and finish third to Treve in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

“I couldn’t speak highly enough of the man,” said Gold. “A brilliant jockey and for me the best guy to work with – loyal, hard working, a great work rider and team member and a joy to work with, plus the biggest gentleman to ever step foot in the weighing room.

“I think he rode nearly 1,000 winners for Richard – extraordinary statistics.

“We were lucky enough to get him and he did a fabulous job for us, with probably Taghrooda and Muhaarar being the highlights, as well as Mukhadram in the Eclipse.

“For me, above everything else, he’s just the most decent man, a superstar and we wish him all the best.”

Ryan Moore was victorious aboard Marhaba The Champ in Hanagan’s farewell race, and told ITV Racing: “Paul started a couple of years before me and he’s had a wonderful career.

“He’s been champion jockey twice and he’s won Classics and had a great career. It will be sad to see him go, but it looks like he’s ready and I wish him well for the future.”

Frankie Dettori links up with Willie Mullins as the Closutton handler unleashes a two-pronged assault on the Sky Bet Ebor at York on Saturday.

Mullins won the prestigious handicap in 2009 and although always having the race circled on his calendar, has been out of luck on subsequent visits to the Knavesmire.

This year it is Royal Ascot runner-up Absurde and one-time Group Three scorer Jackfinbar that carry the hopes of the multiple champion National Hunt trainer, and he has called up a crack team of jockeys with Dettori set to reunite with Absurde for his York swansong, while William Buick will be aboard the latter.

“Both horses are in good shape and I’m very happy them,” said Mullins.

“We have one inside and one outside after the draw. Both jockeys are in good form and we’re looking forward to the race.

“It’s a race a race we look at every year if we have something good enough and qualified to go for it, so we’re hoping for a good run.”

The Ebor serves as a ‘win in you’re in’ for the Melbourne Cup and even though Mullins already has Flemington favourite Vauban safely tucked away at Closutton, he is not ruling out being mob-handed in ‘the race that stops the nation’ on November 7.

“It would be very interesting if we had that problem,” added Mullins, when asked if Vauban could have company for the trip to Australia.

“I imagine they could and I’m sure both owners would be keen to crack at a race like that, they certainly would.”

Sweet William has seen his reputation grow throughout the summer and will now seek a fantastic four-timer in his stiffest test yet.

The progressive four-year-old made it three straight victories at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, finds himself of warm order as he bids to give John and Thady Gosden back-to-back wins in the £500,000 event.

“He’s obviously progressed well through the year, winning from a mile and a half to two miles and half a furlong.” said Thady Gosden.

“He’s running over the same trip he won well over at Goodwood last time out and he’s been in good form since then.”

Sweet William, who is owned by the renowned owner-breeder Philipa Cooper under the Normandie Stud banner, was at one stage sweating on his place in the final line-up, while the owner herself was hesitant about running in the race.

However, his big-race claims are obvious despite a competitive field and Gosden is keen to take part in one of the season’s most valuable handicap contest.

“The Ebor is a premier staying handicap in the UK and of course one of the features of the Ebor Festival,” he added.

“He is versatile with regards to ground.”

Second to Sweet William at Goodwood was Michael Bell’s Adjuvant, who was the last to sneak into the race after declarations on Thursday morning.

The four-year-old finished third in the Melrose on this card last year and his handler is hopeful of another solid showing on the Knavesmire.

Bell said: “He ran a very nice race at Goodwood and appears to be in very good form this year. I think he has definitely improved from three to four. He ran a nice race in the Melrose at York last year but the form book suggests he’s taken a nice step forward.

“We were surprised to get in and it is very race for a horse rated 95 to get in. Obviously we are delighted to get in and we’ve got a bit of a pull at the weights with Sweet William, but arguably he won with a bit more up his sleeve so we may be up against it. But he heads there in really good order.”

At the opposite end of the scale, Saeed bin Suroor’s Live Your Dream carries top-weight and the classy Godolphin-owned operator, who was a winner at Newmarket last time, is yet to finish outside the top three since returning from a long absence earlier this summer.

“After he won at Newmarket he had an easy time and now he is doing well and has been working well,” said Bin Suroor.

“He’s in good form, but it’s a tough race with some good horses in it and he has to carry a heavy weight.

“I’m happy with him and a mile and six is the best trip for him and I think the track will suit him.”

Andrew Balding’s Scampi booked his ticket when winning the track’s Jorvik handicap earlier this season and could be a popular selection having added to his season’s tally at the Shergar Cup recently.

His owners RaceShare have big ambitions of taking their charge to Australia later in the year, but first the Yorkshire-based operation are hoping their star performer can provide them with a fitting home success.

“Scampi has been brilliantly placed by trainer Andrew Balding and our owners love that he is such a character and so well liked by Andrew’s staff at Kingsclere,” said managing director Lucy Delaney.

“We have plenty of local Yorkshire owners attending too so it’s nice to have an in-form Yorkshire-based jockey in Jason Hart on board. It is all very exciting.”

Sir Michael Stoute’s Real Dream was third behind Scampi here in May and has since advertised his big-race credentials with a taking victory over the Ebor trip at Ascot.

“It’s been the target for a long time, but we didn’t know if he was going to be high enough to get in at one stage. Obviously after his win at Ascot that just put him there right,” said Philip Robinson, assistant racing manager for owner Saeed Suhail.

“The trip’s ideal and everything is good. He worked brilliantly the other morning and really strode out well, so we’re very hopeful.”

Milton Harris will be studying tapes of Dettori’s ride aboard Trawlerman 12 months ago Scriptwriter bids to go one better than his track-and-trip second to Hamish in the John Smith’s Silver Cup from a wide draw in stall 20.

He said: “The horse is in great form and everything has gone well with his preparation. Ground conditions are fine and we have no concerns there, but the draw is really unhelpful.

“We’ll have to go forward I suppose, I’m going to have to talk to the jockey and formulate some sort of plan, but I couldn’t be happier with the horse.

“He had a terrible draw at Ascot when he ran a really nice race and now we’ve got another bad draw in a really competitive race, so the draw gods aren’t smiling upon us I’m afraid.

“We’ll have to find a way and no doubt we will have a watch of what Frankie did last year. It’s not impossible and Clifford (Lee) is a good jockey who has ridden around York plenty of times.

“He has been bought by some people in Australia and is going to race over there and this has been his target before he goes.

“He ran a tremendous race over course and distance last time at York and I have no concerns whatsoever about his well-being, I couldn’t be happier with the horse and I won’t be able to offer the well-being of the horse as any excuse.”

Epictetus bids for back-to-back big-race wins at Goodwood in the William Hill Celebration Mile.

Having chased home Auguste Rodin in Group One company at Doncaster at the end of his juvenile campaign, connections justifiably had Classic aspirations at the start of this season.

But while a comeback win in the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom kept that particular dream alive, he could finish only fifth in both the Dante at York and the French Derby and was disappointing in the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot.

John and Thady Gosden elected to revert to a mile in Goodwood’s Group Three Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes three weeks ago and having inflicted a surprise defeat on the exciting Nostrum, a return to the track for this weekend’s Group Two feature is an obvious next port of call.

“He was obviously a course and distance winner last time out in a good field. He’s stepping up in grade again on Saturday, but the drop down to a mile has suited him well and he’s been in good order since his last run,” said Thady Gosden.

“I don’t think he necessarily needs soft ground – he’s relatively versatile as regards to ground.”

Roger Varian’s Charyn and William Haggas’ Aldaary finished fourth and fifth respectively when faced with the mammoth task of taking on Paddington in the Sussex Stakes and now drop to a slightly easier level, while Ed Walker’s consistent mare Random Harvest steps up and takes on the boys having registered a Group Three victory in the Valiant Stakes at Ascot.

Walker said: “I think this is a good opportunity for a Group Two for her and we’re hoping the rain stays away.

“She’s in cracking form and I’m hoping for another big run.”

Simon and Ed Crisford have won this twice in the last three years thanks to Century Dream in 2020 and Jadoomi 12 months ago and fresh from breaking their Group One duck at Deauville last Sunday, will be hoping to enhance their fine race record with Knight.

He looked to possess some real class when winning the Horris Hill last season and enjoyed a first taste of the mile distance when not disgraced over track and trip behind Epictetus earlier this month.

Knight was fourth on that occasion, with Charlie Hills’ Galeron a place ahead in third, while Andrew Balding’s Holguin and Ralph Beckett’s Angel Bleu complete the line-up for this competitive heat.

Kevin Sinfield insists England have remained united despite being buffeted by multiple setbacks before the World Cup has even begun.

Fiji’s visit to Twickenham on Saturday completes a warm-up campaign that has seen England’s record deteriorate to four defeats in five matches, leaving them bereft of form ahead of their pivotal Pool D clash with Argentina on September 9.

Some of the challenges facing Steve Borthwick’s men – such as the bans for high tackles issued to Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola – have been of their own making, but injury has struck too.

Anthony Watson has followed Jack van Poortvliet out of the original 33-man squad named by Borthwick and there are concerns over two more frontline stars in Tom Curry and Elliot Daly.

Sinfield insists that despite the adversity, England’s squad is showing no signs of splintering into cliques.

“We were a tight group already, but how you handle those setbacks and those obstacles are really important to how the team moves forward and how the team functions,” defence coach Sinfield said.

“After each one of those blows – if you call them that – we’ve got back up and gone again. We’ll continue to do that. These obstacles will continue to bring us closer together.

“In another group, in one that wasn’t as experienced or as hungry to do well, it might have been really, really challenging for us.

“When things start to pull apart there are fractures – groups start to break off and spend time together, sitting together and having separate meetings. There is none of that.

“They are very much together. Meal time shows you a lot of that – where people sit, the time they spend together. And on the field, how hard they work.

“Performances haven’t been where they have needed to be, but we are having constructive conversations too.

“The players are working together and nobody is blaming anybody – they are the signs that let you know we have a good group.”

One consolation England have taken from the cloud hanging over their World Cup preparation is that the events have left them battle-hardened for the weeks ahead.

“I believe that everything happens for a reason. We understand that when you’re preparing for something like this, improving is never a straight line,” Sinfield said.

“We didn’t envisage encountering as many challenges as we have had, but it will prepare us for what’s to come when we get to France.

“In many ways the fact that we’re dealing with this now hopefully makes it easier for us when we get to France.

“The group are pretty tight, we’ll continue to fight and move forward and be better against Fiji.”

Joe Cokanasiga has been called into camp as cover in the event England suffer any more injuries to the back three.

Ireland complete their World Cup warm-up fixtures on Saturday by taking on Samoa in Bayonne.

Head coach Andy Farrell is due to reveal his final 33-man squad for the tournament on Sunday afternoon.

Here, the PA news agency picks out some of the main talking points ahead of the match at Stade Jean Dauger.

Selection looming large

Ireland’s World Cup hopefuls have one final audition as they anxiously await news on selection.

Farrell will cut his current 39-man squad down on Sunday afternoon, with six players set to suffer disappointment.

He was initially scheduled to make his decisions public on Monday before opting to bring forward the announcement by 24 hours.

Iain Henderson, who will captain the side on Saturday, admits the situation has increased tension in the camp but insists the unfortunate players will be well supported.

Squad split

Only a few spots appear undecided, leaving a handful of peripheral players battling it out.

It is unclear whether Farrell will go for a 19-14 split of forwards and backs, or opt for 18-15.

The former would likely mean Stuart McCloskey and Keith Earls, who are set to start this weekend, and Jacob Stockdale and Ciaran Frawley, who will not be involved, are competing for one position.

Rookie forwards Cian Prendergast, Jeremy Loughman, Tom Stewart and Diarmuid Barron are among the others in danger of missing out.

Injury issues

A possible complication for Ireland’s final squad is the fitness situations surrounding a small number of players.

Back-rower Jack Conan has not played since limping off with a foot injury against Italy on August 5, while prop Dave Kilcoyne (hamstring) has also not featured since that game.

Undoubtedly the biggest potential problem for Farrell comes at hooker. Dan Sheehan is undergoing treatment on a foot ligament issue and Ronan Kelleher (hamstring) is yet to feature this summer.

The head coach has expressed confidence the four will be available for France.

Discipline matters

England’s sticky situation surrounding the suspensions of Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola has brought disciplinary matters into greater focus.

Ireland coach Farrell is wary of there being “cards everywhere” at the moment following Vunipola’s Dublin dismissal last Saturday.

With captain Johnny Sexton poised to complete his three-match ban, Ireland certainly do not want any further suspension setbacks on the eve of the World Cup.

Farrell says his side are striving to be rugby’s most-disciplined team.

Samoa a “different animal”

Ireland are seeking to maintain momentum by registering a 13th consecutive win.

They last faced Samoa during the pool stage of the 2019 World Cup in Japan, which ended in a resounding 47-5 win, despite Bundee Aki’s first-half red card.

Skipper Henderson believes Ireland’s upcoming opponents have been improved significantly during the past four years.

“They pose huge threats, they’re definitely a different animal to the last time we played them,” he said.

Max Verstappen picked up where he left off by posting the fastest time in opening practice for the Dutch Grand Prix.

Verstappen, who has won 10 of the 12 rounds so far and will match Sebastian Vettel’s record of nine consecutive victories if he triumphs again on Sunday, finished 0.278 seconds clear of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.

Lewis Hamilton took third spot for Mercedes, three tenths adrift of Verstappen, with Sergio Perez fourth in the other Red Bull.

Verstappen dominated the opening half of the Formula One season to establish a 125-point championship lead in his pursuit of a third straight world title.

On Thursday, Hamilton raised the prospect of the Dutchman winning all of the remaining 10 rounds, and on the evidence of the first running, he will head into the weekend in front of an expectant Zandvoort crowd as the clear favourite to continue his commanding streak.

For Hamilton, the seven-time world champion said his goal for the second half of the season is to finish runner-up in the drivers’ standings.

The 38-year-old is currently fourth, 41 points behind Perez, who occupies second spot, and he will be relatively pleased with his opening salvo. Mercedes team-mate George Russell finished 11th, the best part of a second down.

Haas announced ahead of this weekend’s race that Nico Hulkenberg will be retained for a second term with the American team.

But the veteran German crashed out of practice after losing control of his machine through the penultimate corner. With his Haas beached in the gravel, the running was suspended.

Over at Ferrari, Charles Leclerc was only 16th, three spots ahead of Robert Shwartzman, a junior driver for the Italian team who stood in for Carlos Sainz for first practice.

McLaren driver Lando Norris finished sixth, one place behind Williams’ Alex Albon.

Second practice gets under way at 4pm local time (3pm BST).

Captain Iain Henderson has urged Ireland’s World Cup hopefuls to set aside any lingering anxiety about selection and play their way into Andy Farrell’s final squad.

Head coach Farrell will reveal his 33-man group for the tournament on Sunday afternoon in Dublin, having decided to bring forward the announcement by 24 hours.

Players have one final chance to secure a return ticket to France during Saturday evening’s warm-up clash with Samoa in Bayonne, with six set to suffer disappointment.

Ulster lock Henderson, who is preparing for his third World Cup, admits tension has increased in camp ahead of the looming cut.

“Close to half the squad haven’t been in this position before,” said the 31-year-old.

“What the players are focusing on is how they’re going to put their best foot forward for Faz (Farrell) to get a good glimpse of them.

“He knows each one of us pretty intimately at this stage and I feel that the final step that the players can take is to actually go out and show it again in the Test match this weekend.

“I think there is a type of anxiety there but the players are well used to being put in sticky situations, selections for cup finals, selections for tours, selections for Six Nations games.

“Obviously this one carries a slightly different weight but we’re a really tight-knit group, the guys who are feeling probably the worst about it are probably the best supported.”

Farrell has regularly insisted all 33 places in his squad remain up for grabs.

Yet, in reality, only a few spots appear undecided, leaving a handful of peripheral players battling it out.

It is unclear whether the Englishman will go for a 19/14 split of forwards and backs, or opt for 18/15.

The former would likely mean Stuart McCloskey and Keith Earls, who are set to start against Samoa at Stade Jean Dauger, and Jacob Stockdale and Ciaran Frawley, who will not be involved, are competing for one spot.

Hookers Dan Sheehan and Ronan Kelleher, number eight Jack Conan and prop Dave Kilcoyne each have injury problems, albeit Farrell has been upbeat on those issues.

“Everyone’s looking after each other and ensuring whoever is left out will feel as little left out as possible,” said Henderson.

“I feel that the guys really do look out for each other and there’s a genuine care for how each other is feeling.”

Ireland’s World Cup campaign starts against Romania on September 9 in Bordeaux.

Their weekend clash with Samoa is the first meeting between the sides since the Irish won 47-5 at the 2019 tournament in Japan.

“This is their pre-World Cup campaign, similar to ours, coming to a crescendo,” said Henderson.

“It’s an exciting time for them, looking to have a shot at us. We’re looking to play the game we like to play.

“They pose huge threats, they’re definitely a different animal to the last time we played them.”

British underdog Daniel Dubois will draw inspiration from Tyson Fury when he faces world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday night.

Dubois (19-1, 18KOs) will walk out at Tarczynski Arena in front of around 43,000 spectators this weekend with the majority inside the Polish venue supporting Ukrainian hero Usyk (20-0, 13KOs) given many Ukraine natives have resided in Poland since Russia’s invasion of their country last year.

While Dubois, 25, can expect a hostile ring walk for his first world title fight, his promoter Frank Warren has been here before.

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It was Warren and his Queensberry Promotions company that made the match-up between Fury and Wladimir Klitschko in 2015, which ended with the British heavyweight producing an enormous upset in Germany to claim the WBA, IBF and WBO belts in remarkable fashion.

That was Fury’s maiden world title bout and few gave him a chance, but he pulled off a shock victory on points in Dusseldorf and stablemate Dubois is now dreaming of doing the same in Wroclaw.

“All the great fighters had to do it. Before they were champions, people doubted them and had a lot of things to say,” Dubois told the PA news agency.

“Boxing is made up of opinions so I never take it to heart or let it break me. I am ready to go. Ready to go out there and prove what I need to do.

“Tyson is a good example. Look at what he has done and gone on to achieve now. I just need to get the prayers going and hopefully the big man upstairs hears me.”

Saturday’s show is the start of a busy period for Warren and Queensberry Promotions with a rematch between Joe Joyce and China’s Zhilei Zhang scheduled on September 23 at Wembley Arena.

Meanwhile, Fury is due to step in the ring to take on mixed martial arts fighter Francis Ngannou in a boxing contest on October 28 in Saudi Arabia, but the Briton’s WBC heavyweight title will not be at stake.

A successful couple of months for Warren’s fighters could result in an in-house unification bout at the start of 2024.

Warren told PA: “Every big heavyweight fight our fighters are involved in.

“Regarding Tyson’s future, it all depends on what happens on August 26th so it is an interesting time for the heavyweight decision.

“We’ve seen the odds upset and I just feel it is Daniel’s time. I know he has all the equipment to do it, he can punch from both hands, he has a great jab, good speed and footwork.

“It will all be about his temperament and I believe his temperament will see him through.

“No one gave Tyson a chance and over the years we’ve done a few of those fights, so I hope it is the case again. At the end of the day, Daniel has got a massive opportunity and if it comes out right for him, it would be brilliant.”

Plenty has been thrown at Dubois since the fight was confirmed with his age and lack of experience cited as big weaknesses, while the bookmakers have him as a huge outsider.

The Londoner has fought 20 times since he turned professional in 2017 but notably took a knee which allowed himself to be counted out in the 10th round of a clash with Joyce three years ago due to a grotesquely swollen left eye.

Dubois received a barrage of criticism for ‘quitting’ from current and former boxers. It was later revealed he suffered a broken orbital bone and nerve damage around his eye in addition to retinal bleeding.

After rebuilding his career in America, Dubois now enters his first world title fight at the age of 25 but with more heavyweight bouts than Usyk and a secret weapon in new trainer Don Charles, who was in Derek Chisora’s corner when the Briton pushed Usyk all the way at Wembley Arena in 2020.

Dubois added: “I have been boxing for most of my life so that (age) argument is out of the window. I have the experience and I need to be a veteran in this fight.

“I have to bully him. I have to go in there and be the bully. Be the bully and shake him up.

“Yeah, Don will be putting in things that I am not even aware of style-wise and coach-wise. He has a lot of passion and that is what you need.

“You need the bully-the-bull type mentality to go in there and f*** s*** up, as they say. That is what we need to do.”

The high-class Nostrum bids to get back to winning ways in the Sky Bet And Symphony Group Strensall Stakes at York on Saturday.

Sir Michael Stoute’s talented son of Kingman has won three of his five career starts and having missed the first half of his three-year-old campaign through a setback, returned in imperious fashion in the Sir Henry Cecil Stakes at Newmarket.

However, things did not go to plan at Goodwood in the Thoroughbred Stakes, with Nostrum struggling to pick up with his usual zest in the testing ground and having to settle for a length defeat behind Epictetus.

With conditions set to be much more in the colt’s favour on the Knavesmire, connections are hoping to see their exciting prospect bounce right back to his best in a contest the Freemason Lodge handler has won twice since 2017.

“He’s in good form, obviously it didn’t work out for him the last day but he came out of the race very well,” said Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte.

“We think he’ll have come forward for the run and we’re looking forward to getting him back on a better surface and a more conventional track.

“Hopefully we’ll see the Nostrum we saw at Newmarket again.

“We all called it wrong, we thought he’d have liked the ground the last day as he’s a big horse and he bends his knee a bit.

“We were all wrong and Ryan (Moore) just felt that he couldn’t pull himself out of it, it was gluey.

“There was the factor too that he’d been off the track for so long, there may have been a bounce on his second start – we don’t know but he’s training well and we’re looking forward to seeing him.”

Owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum finished second in this 12 months ago and will attempt to go one better with El Drama, who was beaten only a neck on his first start for Karl Burke in Haydock’s Rose of Lancaster Stakes.

The Spigot Lodge team are also represented by Flight Plan who has shown glimpses of real ability this term and was a also a runner-up when last sighted.

Jimi Hendrix’s Royal Hunt Cup victory earnt himself a step up to Group Two company for the Summer Mile earlier in the season and he has been given another chance to thrive in Pattern company at a track handler Ralph Beckett believes will suit.

He said: “He’s in good form. I felt it was a little bit too quick for him back after Ascot. In retrospect the Summer Mile was quite hard on him.

“I think the nature of this race will set up well for him. I think the flat track will suit him well, he’s not so good on the undulations.”

Five go to post for this Group Three event with Richard Fahey’s hat-trick-seeking Spirit Dancer and Charlie Johnston’s Ganton Stakes scorer Chichester completing the line-up and both bringing smart course form to the table.