Leading Ascot Gold Cup contenders Fame And Glory and Rite Of Passage are set for a mouthwatering clash in the Seamus Rosemary McGrath Memorial Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Aidan O’Brien’s multiple Group One winner Fame And Glory is stepping up from middle-distances this season and outclassed the opposition on his return to action in the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan.

The Dermot Weld-trained Rite Of Passage picked up the stayers’ crown at the Royal meeting 11 months ago, but hasn’t been seen since and could be joined at the weekend by stablemate Universal Truth.

A total of 12 entries have been received for the Listed contest, with Vintage Crop runner-up Nebula Storm and British raider Red Cadeaux others of particular interest.

Table Mountain won twice for O’Brien before joining trainer Robbie Hennessy, who is unsure whether to let him line up in Listed company.

“He’s going to do a bit of work on Wednesday morning and we’ll know more then,” said Hennessy.

“It’s a hot-looking race, but the trouble is he’s a horse who is going to be hard to place as he’s rated 93 on the Flat.

“In a lot of handicaps he’s going to have an awful lot of weight and I just don’t know if he’s good enough for for Listed races. If we can pick a race or two on the Flat for him we will, and he’ll go novice hurdling next season.”

The Group Three Ballycorus Stakes on the same card has attracted 16 candidates, with last year’s high-class juvenile Zoffany in line to make his reappearance, having missed out on the Irish 2000 Guineas due to a bout of colic.