Eight have been confirmed for Saturday’s Group 1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, with the potential for an exciting clash of the age groups.

Five of the eight are last start winners, with an expansive haul of Group 1 victories between them, including the Derby, Irish Oaks, Coronation Cup, Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and the Breeders' Cup Turf.

At the five-day confirmation stage, Aidan O'Brien looks set to have four runners, with Irish Derby and Irish Oaks winners Lambourn and Whirl opposing for the first time. They could be joined by two older stable representatives: the progressive Jan Brueghel, victorious in the Coronation Cup at Epsom last time, and former St Leger winner Continuous.

The Charlie Appleby-trained Rebel's Romance will be searching for a first domestic Group 1 success to add to his impressive international CV. The seven-year-old gelding proved he is still at the top of his game after a success in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, run over the same course and distance as the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Andrew Balding's Kalpana, winner of the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot in October, has placed on both of her Group 1 starts in Ireland this year.

Juddmonte's European racing manager Barry Mahon said: "Kalpana is all systems go for the King George. This has been her intended target since her last run in Ireland and she is in good shape.

"I think her two runs this year have been very solid. We know she is proven over a mile and a half on soft ground, so for her to produce those performances over 10 furlongs on quicker ground is very promising.

"We would be hopeful of a strong showing on Saturday back over 12 furlongs, for all it looks a competitive race. Calandagan is a top-class horse and we all saw what Jan Brueghel did at Epsom. I don't know if Lambourn will line up as well, but a Derby winner always commands respect."

France will be represented by Royal Ascot winner Calandagan  who achieved a landmark first Group 1 success in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on his latest start. The Francis-Henri Graffard-trained four-year-old was only defeated half-a-length in the British Champion Stakes at Ascot in October.

The line-up is completed by Jessica Harrington's Green Impact, last seen finishing sixth behind Lambourn in the Irish Derby.