Narkez forms part of a strong Andre Fabre raiding team descending on day two and three of the Craven meeting and will be bidding for glory in the Feilden Stakes on the Rowley Mile.
An impressive five-and-a-half length victor of a Clairefontaine contest on his final start as a juvenile, Narkez returned after the winter break with another eye-catching display in the Prix Comrade at Saint-Cloud over a mile. Always prominent under a confident ride from Mikael Barzalona, the Siyouni colt kept on strong in the closing stages to secure a six-and-a-half length win.
"The distance should suit him with the extra furlong (nine furlongs) as he is from a family of middle-distance horses, and obviously he's in good shape," said Fabre.
"I want to see how he does it because he won easily last time, beating not much, so this will be a good experience for him.
"If he does well, he's more of a mile-and-a-quarter horse, so the Prix du Jockey Club would be a long-term target for him, but I'll be wiser after the race."
The market suggests Narkez's main opposition will come from the might of Coolmore and Godolphin, with Aidan O'Brien's Gasper De Lemos traveling over from Ireland. The Justify colt secured a maiden seven furlong victory at the Curragh in late September before finding Arabian Crown too good in the Group 3 Zetland Stakes on the Rowley Mile.
In an interview with Betfair, jockey Ryan Moore said: "We had four in here at the five-day stage and we rely on Gasper De Lemos,
"After a promising debut, this Justify colt won his maiden in very good style at the Curragh before finishing second to what looked a smart horse in Arabian Crown in the Zetland here.
"We are happy with him coming into this race but he will be suited by further down the line and I am always wary of an Andre Fabre horse, and his Narkez won very well on his return. And there are clearly others with claims, too."
El Cordobes represents Godolphin and will be switching to turf for the first time. Sixth on debut at Kempton Park over a mile, he showed rapid progression when securing a comfortable two length win in the same conditions in January and holds an entry in the Group 2 Dante Stakes.
