NOTHING quite captures the public's imagination like a good old-fashioned rematch and on day one of York's Ebor festival Golan and Nayef again go head-to-head in what promises to be one of the races of the season in the £450,000 Juddmonte International.

Seven heavyweight stars of the turf face the starter for the Group 1 showpiece, but unless there is a major turn-up it very much looks like a re-run of last month's "King George" at Ascot where Golan just got the better of Nayef in a titanic final furlong tussle.

Sir Michael Stoute's 2001 2,000 Guineas winner, Golan, was making his seasonal reappearance, a fact that puts an extra shine on the performance. However, Nayef's trainer, Marcus Tregoning, clearly fancies his chances of revenge. "I think the trip and the track will suit him - I've always thought he's very effective going left-handed."

Marcus has a point about the trip because it was over a mile-and-a-quarter that Nayef won last year's Dubai Champion Stakes at Newmarket, whereas the King George is a mile-and-a-half event, a distance which probably stretches his stamina to the limit.

Such mouth-watering contests are there to be savoured, and it would be churlish to entirely discount Godolphin's classy Noverre at his first try over the distance, nevertheless on balance I still just give Golan the nod to confirm his status as one of Europe's leading middle-distance four-year-olds.

Those who doubt Golan's ability to cope with Nayef's arguably superior finishing speed at the shorter trip should remember that when all is said and done Golan (2.55) has Classic winning form over one mile.

Add this to the invaluable assistance of his old pal Kieren Fallon in the saddle, and the scales might still be tipped in their favour when Nayef's rider, Richard Hills, goes for broke over the final couple of furlongs up the famous Knavesmire home straight. In the opening Acomb Stakes Bourbonnais (1.45) has a clear chance of wiping away the disappointment of his Glorious Goodwood defeat.

Mark Johnston, who has farmed this event in the past with the likes of Bijou D'Inde, thinks very highly of the Singspiel colt, a sure-fire potential future champion if he continues to thrive both physically and mentally over the next 12 months.

Johnston also holds all of the aces in the £150,000 Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes, going in double-handed with both Bandari (2.55) and Systematic.

Bandari is already favourite for next month's St Leger and if he is on top form there can only be one winner. Nonetheless Hamdam Al Maktoum's colt has been guilty of running the odd stinker, notably in the Epsom Derby, so don't be afraid to back Systematic, who has improved more than any other horse in Johnston's stable.

If by the sixth race you're losing heavily, an ironic chord may well be struck by the race title of the Nursery Handicap, the Gerrard Wealth Management Eglinton Stakes.

Attempting to redress the balance in the "wealth management stakes" with the bookies is a constant battle and in this instance I recommend siding with yet another of Johnston's almost bottomless pit of top-notch performers, Nuit Sombre (4.30).

The closing 20-runner Showcase Handicap, sponsored by Links of London, is hardly the best medium for "getting out of jail" stakes.

Having napped Armagnac to win the Great Wilfred Handicap on Saturday I'm not going to desert Mark Buckley's colt now, especially as he was flying inside the final furlong. Armagnac lost far too much early ground on that occasion, so if Martin Dwyer can just get him up near the leaders in the first half of the race, his spanking good finishing kick might just do the trick this time.

Get more racing online at www.racing-north.co.uk.