Dubai: The Mark Johnston-trained Cardsharp will bid to give Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, a first winner at Royal Ascot this week when he runs in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes.

As with most Johnston’s trainees, the two-year-old son of top Australian stallion Lonhro, boasts plenty of racecourse experience for someone so young, having raced with credit at varied courses at Brighton, Epsom, Beverly and Ascot.

That experience could give him the edge on his 17 rivals led by the American-trained Mcerin, the ante-post favourite to win the five-furlong contest, which carries a purse of £100,000.

Cardsharp was a gutsy second behind De Bruyne Horse at the Derby meeting earlier in the month and followed up with a strong win at Beverley on his last start and that experience should set him up for a big run in this contest.

The Norfolk Stakes, which opens day three of the exhillerating weekend, is a popular event for juvenile horses and offers racing fans with the first opportunity to catch a glimpse of these promising youngsters, who are looking to announce themselves as stars of the future and contenders for the big three-year-old events a year later.

McErin, a colt by Trappe Shot, made an eye-catching debut at Keeneland in April virtually making all of the running before finding another set of gears to win by over seven lengths. On his second start at Churchill Downs he was edged out by Buy Sell Hold but comes to England with a lot of expectation.

Declan Carroll is represented by Santry, the second favourite and winner of both starts at Doncaster and York earlier this year.

Karl Burke saddles Havana Grey, a grey son of Havana Gold who was beaten on his debut but has since won at Ayr and Sandown.

Dubai interest will be on Sheikhzayedroad, winner of the British Champions Long Distance on Champions Day in October, who runs in the Group 2 Gold Cup, a 3,200-metre contest.

Trained by David Simcock for Dubai businessman Mohammad Jaber, the uniquely named Sheikhzayedroad won a pair of Group 2 events back-to-back last season. He is a consistent performer and should be a force to reckon with despite the depth of quality in this year’s Gold Cup.