Signs Of Blessing won an arguably below par renewal for the home team last year but faces a much tougher task today. CARAVAGGIO lost his unbeaten record when failing to reproduce his usual late surge in the July Cup at Newmarket last month but the Ballydoyle colt is still the one to beat if back to his best. He can confirm latest running with stablemate Intelligence Cross and had earlier beaten the unexposed Bound For Nowhere when landing the Commonwealth Cup at Ascot. Brando has yet to win at this level but ran well for third in the July Cup last time and Magical Memory arrives in top form for Charlie Hills, who won this in 2015. Aclaim and Tupi look up against it but Andre Fabre runs his unbeaten filly Rosa Imperial and she’s worth a second glance upped in class after landing a Group 3 sprint in June.
Brando 28-1 (9-6) Held up in last pair, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, went never nearer 3rd towards finish, never going pace of winner, 3rd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Harry Angel (9-0) at Newmarket 6f Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Jul.
Aclaim (IRE) 9-1 (9-3) Chased leaders on inside, not much room entering final furlong, kept on until weakened towards finish, 6th of 13, 1 1/4l behind Breton Rock (9-3) at Goodwood 7f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Aug.
Signs Of Blessing (IRE) 5-1 (9-4) Held up, ridden 2f out, kept on final furlong, never nearer, 8th of 17, 5 1/2l behind Lady Aurelia (8-9) at Ascot 5f Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Jun.
Black Max (FR) (9-2) 3rd of 8, 3l behind Royal Julius (8-12) at Nantes 1m lst stks gd in Jul.
Magical Memory (IRE) 3-1fav (9-7) Chased leaders, ridden to challenge over 1f out led soon after, ran on well, won at Newbury 6f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Jul beating Perfect Angel (8-13) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Tupi (IRE) 9-2 (9-7) Soon struggling and always in rear, last of 10, 23 3/4l behind Magical Memory (9-7) at Newbury 6f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Jul.
The Right Man 14-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened soon after, 11th of 19, 5 1/4l behind The Tin Man (9-3) at Ascot 6f Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Jun.
Zalamea (IRE) 50-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, outpaced over 2f out, soon ridden, weakened and behind 1f out, last of 7, 14 3/4l behind Mutakayyef (9-1) at Ascot 1m Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Jul.
Rosa Imperial (IRE) (8-11) won at Maisons-Laffitte 6f Grp 3 gd in Jun beating Son Cesio (9-1) by 1l, 7 ran.
Fas (IRE) (8-13) won at Chantilly 6f Grp 3 stks gd in Apr beating Precieuse (8-10) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
Caravaggio (USA) 10-11fav (9-0) Reared up as stalls opened and lost ground, held up in touch in mid-division, pushed along over 2f out, unable to quicken when slightly hampered on near side over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, went 4th towards finish, never going pace to threaten, 4th of 10, 1 3/4l behind Harry Angel (9-0) at Newmarket 6f Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Jul.
Intelligence Cross (USA) 100-1 (9-0) Led, ridden and headed inside final 2f, chased winner, ridden and hung right over 1f out, kept on but held when lost 2nd and weakened towards finish, 5th of 10, 2 1/4l behind Harry Angel (9-0) at Newmarket 6f Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Jul.
Bound For Nowhere (USA) 10-1 (9-3) In touch, headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, not trouble leaders, 4th of 12, 4 1/4l behind Caravaggio (9-3) at Ascot 6f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.
