DECORATED Knight carries the optimism of connections when he bids to turn around Coral-Eclipse form in today's Juddmonte International Stakes at York.

Roger Charlton's five-year-old may have finished behind Ulysses (first), Barney Roy (second) and Cliffs Of Moher (fourth) when only sixth, but the feeling is he did not show his true colours at Sandown.

Decorated Knight had earlier won the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh and was ahead of Ulysses when second to Highland Reel in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.

And the belief is the course at York will be right up Decorated Knight's street when the Ebor Festival kicks off this afternoon.

"Decorated Knight has done us and Roger Charlton proud this season," Tony Nerses, advisor to owners Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar, said.

"He was the emphatic winner of the Tattersalls Gold Cup and then went to Royal Ascot for the Prince of Wales's Stakes, where he ran an excellent race to be second. Things didn't go right for him last time in the Eclipse Stakes.

"He goes to York in good form. The track promises to suit him and so we're hopeful of a good run. He's a tough, sound horse who always tries his best."

However, Decorated Knight is rated a 14-1 chance in a seven-runner field with Ladbrokes, who have the Eclipse principals Ulysses and Barney Roy at 3-1 and 5-2 respectively.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Ulysses got the verdict by a nose at Sandown and has since finished second to Enable in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

The Richard Hannon-trained Barney Roy has not raced since the Eclipse and Ulysses will not be the only old foe he will be meeting on the Knavesmire.

He will lock horns for the third time with Churchill, with the score standing at one all.

Aidan O'Brien's charge came out on top in the 2000 Guineas, but Barney Roy got his revenge on the dual Classic winner in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Churchill was only fourth that day and has to put that disappointing effort behind him. He has also yet to run beyond a mile, though he shares favouritism at 5-2.

O'Brien is also represented by Cliffs Of Moher, who was second in the Investec Derby and did not have the best of runs when fourth in the Eclipse.

John Gosden has rerouted Musidora scorer Shutter Speed after taking her out of an intended engagement at Deauville at the weekend because of soft ground, while Clive Cox's Group One victor My Dream Boat completes a stellar list.