Frankie Dettori's mount Farrh has been installed as favourite with the sponsors for the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday after the defection of So You Think.
Aidan O'Brien's ex-Australian giant, who have been bidding for back-to-back Eclipse wins, was found to be lame before declaration time and will now return Down Under for stallion duty.
The Saeed bin Suroor-trained Farrh finished third behind So You Think in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, and was considered by many to be an unlucky loser as he met trouble in-running.
The Group One feature, which has attracted 10 runners, also sees the return to the track of Dante Stakes scorer Bonfire, who was disappointing in the Epsom Derby, and Godolphin's Dubai World Cup winner Monterosso.
Monterosso's trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni is also responsible for City Style.
Nathaniel, last season's King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner, is in line to make his belated seasonal bow.
Trainer John Gosden has, however, warned the four-year-old colt will only run if the ground is suitable.
The Newmarket handler is also wary of giving Nathaniel too hard a race before he heads back to Ascot for the King George on 21 July.
He told At The Races: "Normally there is three weeks between the Eclipse and the King George, but this year there is only two.
"That is the big factor playing on my mind because if you get a hard race in the Eclipse on your first run of the year it's a little tough to say, 'I'll be back for the King George'.
"At this stage I'd be mindful of that fact."
Twice Over, winner of the Eclipse two years ago, takes the plunge for the Henry Cecil-Khalid Abdullah axis.
Abdullah's silks will also be sported by the Roger Charlton-trained Cityscape, who was so impressive in the Dubai Duty Free at Meydan in March.
Eclipse regular Sri Putra has again been given the go-ahead by Roger Varian,
As has the Brian Meehan-trained Cogito, even though connections were concerned earlier in the week by the possibility of testing ground.
Italian import Crackerjack King, the mount of Ryan Moore, is the curve-ball contender of the field as he has his first start for Newmarket-based handler Marco Botti.
