THE Irish might not be peaking in Beijing, but they will hold the whip hand in Tuesday’s Juddmonte International, highlight of the York Ebor meeting, following the announcement from Jim Bolger yesterday that the Derby winner New Approach would run, setting up a mouthwatering clash with Aidan O’Brien’s prolific Group One winner Duke Of Marmalade.

New Approach has been absent since his Epsom triumph in June. The Galileo colt suffered an injury to his near-hind hoof shortly before he was due to contest the Irish Derby, and it was subsequently discovered that he had developed soreness in his hindquarters, which required several weeks’ rest. It was thought that he would not reappear until the Irish Champion Stakes at Leop-ardstown next month.

However, not for the first time this season Bolger put bookmakers and punters on the back foot when New Approach’s name remained in the Juddmonte entries at the midweek declaration stage. The horse, who carries the silks of Sheikh Mohammed’s wife, Princess Haya, was hastily introduced as second favourite behind Duke Of Marmalade. The confirmation that the Juddmonte would feature the clash between Bolger’s three-year-old and the year-older Duke Of Marmalade, who gained his fourth straight Group One success of the season in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot last month, came at lunchtime.

“I have spoken to the owners and we have decided he will run,” Bolger said. “He worked well on Friday so he will go to York and I think the ground there will be fine for him.”

New Approach’s presence will add considerably to the race, which had threatened to become yet another Group One victory for the avaricious O’Brien. Bookmaker Paddy Power sliced New Approach’s odds to 11/4 while easing Duke Of Marmalade to 8/11, a spokesman suggesting that the price of victory for either one of the Irish horses would be no bigger than 2/9.

At Newbury yesterday, the progressive Paco Boy further enhanced his burgeoning reputation with a decisive victory in the Group Two Hungerford Stakes. The 6/5 favourite gave neither his supporters nor jockey Ryan Moore the slightest concern, going clear in the last furlong to beat Al Qasi by four and a half lengths.

The three-year-old may return next month to Longchamp, the scene of his sole defeat in five starts this campaign when unplaced in the French 2,000 Guineas, for the Prix de la Foret. Richard Hannon, assistant to his father Richard, believes Paco Boy has improved considerably over the summer.

“He’s the worst walker and one of the worst movers but he runs like the wind,” Hannon said. “He was better there than he was at Good-wood and he had a penalty. Ryan was very pleased and said he had loads of gears and we could go wherever we want. I would say it would be the Prix de la Foret but we’ll have a look.”

Sixties Icon, winner of the St Leger two years ago, continued his revival when shading the Group Three Geoffrey Freer Stakes ahead of Tempelstern. The five-year-old had suffered from breathing problems last year but this season, apart from being well beaten behind Duke Of Marmalade at Royal Ascot, he has recorded two wins and a second.

“He’s an honest horse, he’s had his issues and he’s come back from them,” said Jeremy Noseda, his trainer. “Bar the runs when his breathing wasn’t right last year, he’s done nothing wrong. Okay, he didn’t run well at Ascot but my horses were under a cloud.

“My campaign for the year was to finish in the mile-and-a-half race on the all-weather at the Breeders’ Cup, so we’ll see how we go.”

Cry Of Freedom acquired a 25/1 quote for the Stan James 2,000 Guineas from the sponsor after making all under Frankie Dettori in the Washington Singer Stakes to record his second win in as many starts.

Jock Bennett, representing trainer Mark Johnston, said: “He’s got some tasty entries. He’s won on both types of ground, looks versatile and should have no trouble going up in class.”