Aidan O'Brien is one of a number of trainers left to ponder the effects of what looks set to be a soft-ground Royal Ascot.
Heavy rain hit the Berkshire track on Friday evening, leaving conditions on Sunday afternoon officially good to soft on the straight course, with soft places on the round track.
The Ballydoyle maestro will have a number of major chances throughout the five days, including French Guineas winner The Gurkha in what looks a red-hot St James's Palace Stakes on the opening afternoon.
The same day O'Brien is also set to saddle Coventry Stakes favourite Caravaggio.
Warning that Air Force Blue (Commonwealth Cup) and Ballydoyle (Coronation Stakes) could swerve their engagements on Friday, O'Brien said: "The ground is going to be the thing to work out - The Gurkha won his maiden on soft ground, but it was very nice ground in France (when he won).
"Caravaggio won on soft ground but shouldn't be a soft-ground horse at all.
"If I had a choice, I'd rather it went the other way (towards good ground) and obviously it will put Air Force Blue in trouble and Ballydoyle in trouble, too - neither would run on soft ground.
"There is rain forecast every day, but we'll see anyway and will decide once we get the first day going."
O'Brien added that Gold Cup favourite Order Of St George "handles a dig" but "wouldn't want it too soft" racing over two and a half miles.
