A fascinating contest is in store for tomorrow's Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, which has attracted a high-class nine-runner line-up.

All of the leading protagonists were left in the £250,000 Group One contest at yesterday's final declaration stage.

Heading the list are last season's Breeders' Cup Turf winner Kalanisi and 2000 Emirates World Series champion Fantastic Light, representing the connections of last year's brilliant but ill-fated victor, Dubai Millennium.

Kalanisi finished second to the Fantastic Light when the pair clashed in last month's Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh but connections of Sir Michael Stoute's charge are confident of reversing the placings.

His big-race rider Kieren Fallon explained in his News of the World column: ''This looks like the race of the meeting. Kalanisi's not very big but he's got one hell of an engine and a great heart.

''He finished behind the fitter Fantastic Light at the Curragh last time. But I believe we'll see a different horse on Wednesday.''

Dubai Millennium's trainer Saeed bin Suroor is hopeful of winning the race for Godolphin for the second consecutive year.

Fantastic Light will again have the services of pacemaker Give The Slip, as indeed he did when winning at the Curragh.

''He needs a good pace in a race at a mile and a quarter and Give The Slip does a good job,'' the trainer said.

''Fantastic Light is a brave horse and always gives his best.''

Trainer John Gosden is confident that Observatory will handle the step up to a mile and a quarter in the event.

The colt will be returning to the scene of his wins in the Jersey Stakes (seven furlongs) and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (a mile) last year, and is reported in good heart after his short-head victory in last month's Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp.

''When Dubai Millennium won last year there wasn't any real depth but this year we have a pretty vintage crop and it is a field of real depth,'' Gosden said.

''With Fantastic Light, Hightori and Kalanisi it is a stunning race as good an older-horse race as you would find anywhere in the world.

''Observatory has won over one mile one and a half furlongs and I am sure he will stay this trip. When he beat Giant's Causeway here over a mile he took the whole of the straight to get there.''

Hightori, the narrow d'Ispahan runner-up, travels over from France to renew rivalry.

Also in contention is Singapore International Airlines Cup winner Endless Hall.

The Luca Cumani-trained five-year-old will be having his first race in England after being campaigned almost exclusively abroad, although he did triumph in the Scottish Classic at Ayr last season.

Completing the field are Aidan O'Brien's Bach, Ian Balding's Border Arrow and the Gerard Butler-trained Compton Bolter.

l Nuclear Debate has been handed the plum draw on the stands' side as he bids to repeat last year's success in the King's Stand Stakes on today's opening day of the Royal meeting.

John Hammond's French raider will come out of stall one in contrast to last year when he swept down the middle of the track from stall 22 to land the 23-runner Group Two contest under Gerald Mosse.

Mosse again has the mount 12 months on with Japanese rider Yutaka Take who finished a never-nearer third on the six-year-old last time out at Sandown switched to ride stablemate Imperial Beauty.

Sir Mark Prescott gives his unbeaten filly Danehurst her first outing of the season.

The speedy daughter of Danehill bolted up in the Cornwallis Stakes at Newbury on her final start, beating Fromsong by two and a half lengths, and will be a tough nut to crack despite her inexperience.

The Godolphin operation is represented by Bertolini while Aidan O'Brien runs Ishiguru and Dietrich, the latter being the mount of stable jockey Michael Kinane.

The going for the start of the prestigious fixture is currently described as good, good to firm in places.

The Tote is gearing up for the busiest four days of the betting year.

Millions of pounds will be spent between today and Friday, as punters try and find the winners of some of the most competitive races to be run all season.

l Leading American trainer Bob Baffert has been handed a 60-day suspension from racing after one of his horses tested positive test for morphine last year.

The punishment, which takes effect from June 25 to August 23, was handed down to him by three California Horse Racing Board stewards on Sunday.

l Local trainer and Northern Echo columnist Michael Dods enjoyed success at Musselburgh yesterday.

The trainer based in Denton near Darlington was celebrating after his 8-1 shot Rudetski finished ahead of Yenaled to win the 4-00 race.