Aidan O’Brien won this last year and runs both Orderofthegarter, an easy Listed winner at Leopardstown last month and Peace Envoy, partnered by Ryan Moore. South Seas, Kings Gift and Salsabeel look to have tough tasks but Rivet was runner-up in the Craven at Newmarket last month and could figure. Jean-Claude Rouget is looking to win this for the first time and has strong claims of doing so with Brametot. The latter beat Spotify when landing a trial race at Chantilly last month while Andre Fabre runs the unbeaten duo Inns Of Court and Le Brivido and Freddie Head steps Mankib up in class. But NATIONAL DEFENSE makes most appeal having won the Group 1 Jean-Luc Lagardere in great style last year and expected to be a lot sharper for last month's second to subsequent 2000 Guineas third Al Wukair with African Ride back in third.
Mankib (8-12) won at Maisons-Laffitte 1m stks gd in Apr beating Veranda (8-12) by shd, 7 ran.
Brametot (IRE) (9-2) won at Chantilly 1m Grp 3 gd in Apr beating Stunning Spirit (9-2) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
Le Brivido (FR) (8-12) won at Chantilly 6f stks gd in Apr beating Aladdine (8-9) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Orderofthegarter (IRE) 5-4fav (9-3) Soon led, went on from halfway, slightly reduced lead before straight and soon pushed along, asserted over 1f out, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Leopardstown 1m lst stks (1) Good - Yielding in Apr beating Taj Mahal (9-3) by 3 3/4l, 7 ran.
Kings Gift (IRE) 25-1 (9-0) Held up in touch, headway under pressure chasing leaders over 1f out, 4th and one pace inside final furlong, no chance with leading duo, 4th of 10, 6 1/4l behind Barney Roy (9-0) at Newbury 7f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Apr.
Salsabeel (IRE) 5-4fav (9-6) Tracked leaders, headway to press winner over 1f out, soon edged right, ran on strongly but always looked held, 2nd of 6, nk behind Beat The Bank (9-6) at Newmarket 7f stks (3) gf in Apr.
Inns Of Court (IRE) (9-1) won at Saint-Cloud 7f stks gd in Apr beating Degrisement (9-4) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Peace Envoy (FR) 15-8fav (9-6) Tracked leaders, ran freely, 3rd halfway, not clear run in 4th from over 1f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 8, 2 1/4l behind Doctor Geoff (9-3) at Naas 7f lst stks (1) gf in May.
South Seas (IRE) 4-1 (9-5) In touch, led well over 1f out, soon headed, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 7l behind Forest Ranger (9-5) at Newcastle 1m stks (2) pol in Apr.
National Defense (9-2) 2nd of 8, 1l behind Al Wukair (9-2) at Maisons-Laffitte 7f Grp 3 stks gd in Apr.
Rivet (IRE) 11-4 (9-0) Led stand side group, ridden over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, stayed on, 2nd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Eminent (9-0) at Newmarket 1m Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Apr.
African Ride (9-2) 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Al Wukair (9-2) at Maisons-Laffitte 7f Grp 3 stks gd in Apr.
Spotify (FR) (9-2) 3rd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Brametot (9-2) at Chantilly 1m Grp 3 gd in Apr.