NO Excuse Needed can cause a major upset in the St James's Palace Stakes on the opening day of Royal Ascot tomorrow.

Sir Michael Stoute's colt will be one of the outsiders for the Group Onecontest, which is run over the Old Mile, and priced at around 16-1 he could provide the value in a very hot race.

The son of Machiavellian has not been seen out since last September when he ran a shade disappointingly to finish fifth, beaten three and three-quarter lengths behind Atlantis Prince in Ascot's Royal Lodge Stakes.

Before that run No Excuse Needed looked a high-class performer in the making, winning his two previous starts in good style.

He got off the mark in a Sandown maiden last July before being stepped up to Group Three class at Goodwood in the Champagne Lanson Vintage Stakes.

Appreciating the strong gallop at Goodwood, No Excuse Needed led approaching the final furlong and stretched clear in pleasing fashion to beat Bonnard by one and three-quarter lengths.

The Royal Lodge was his first outing for eight weeks and the soft ground that day may have found him out.

He should not be written off because of one below-par run and he remains a colt of some potential.

As expected he will not have matters all his own way tomorrow with the likes of Noverre and Black Minnaloushe, winners respectively of the French and Irish 2000 Guineas, Tamburlaine and the unbeaten Dandoun in opposition in a top-class line-up.

But Stoute's team is in top form ahead of the Royal meeting and No Excuses Needed can give the Newmarket trainer his first success in the St James's Palace Stakes since Shaadi scored in 1989.

Henry Cecil has a tremendous record at the prestigious four-day fixture and the Warren Place trainer can get the meeting off to a flying start with Shibboleth in the opening Queen Anne Stakes.

The four-year-old was not seen out last term after finishing fourth behind Giant's Causeway in the St James's Palace Stakes after sustaining an injury on the gallops.

However, he has returned in good form.

The Danzig colt reappeared in a seven-furlong conditions stakes at Newmarket last month and only had to be pushed out with hands and heels to beat Father Thames by one and a half lengths.

The value of the form may not amount to much but nevertheless it was a nice introduction.

Shibboleth has recently been reported to be working well on the Newmarket gallops and should be spot-on for tomorrow's Group Two event.

Western Verse can complete a double for Cecil in the Coventry Stakes.

He was very impressive on his debut at York's Dante meeting and the form of the race has worked out extremely well.

Western Verse looks a good bet to follow up tomorrow.

James Fanshawe is another Newmarket trainer with his horses at the top of their game and he can strike with Blue Sugar in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes.

Blue Sugar finished an encouraging three-quarters of a length second toGallery God at Thirsk last time and he should now be nearing his peak.

Nuclear Debate, an unlucky third at Sandown last time out, can make amends by repeating his 2000 victory in the King's Stand Stakes while And Beyond can get the north on the scoresheet by landing the Queen's Vase for Middleham trainer Mark Johnston.