Ed Dunlop's Ascot Gold Cup hero TRIP TO PARIS ran a terrific trial when runner-up in the Caulfield Cup over 1m4f last month. He's clearly still at the top of his game, despite a busy schedule, and this longer distance will suit so he's taken to confirm running with third-placed Our Ivanhowe, Gust Of Wind, the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Snow Sky, Grand Marshall, Hokko Brave, Who Shot Thebarman and Fame Game. The latter's fast finish at Caulfield has seen the Japanese raider backed into favouritism in the ante-post market so he can't be ignored but Red Cadeaux, who always seems to run well in this, has a bit to find with Snow Sky on Ascot running in June. Willie Mullins' Max Dynamite beat the selection in the Lonsdale Cup at York but is worse off on these terms. Quest For More is weighted to confirm Northumberland Plate running with the latter and reverse earlier running at Goodwood with Big Orange so is a threat and he's also preferred to Godolphin's Sky Hunter while Group 1 winners Preferment and Criterion and Geelong Cup winner Almoonqith look likely to lead the home challenge. Bondi Beach has a touch of class but the Ballydoyle three-year-old will need a career-best effort to defy a high draw. Hartnell has also fared badly with his starting position.
Snow Sky (9-1) 5th of 18, 4 3/4l behind Mongolian Khan (8-9) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Oct.
Criterion (NZ) (9-4) 2nd of 14, 4 3/4l behind Winx (8-10) at Moonee Valley 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) gd in Oct.
Fame Game (JPN) (8-13) 6th of 18, 4 3/4l behind Mongolian Khan (8-9) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Oct.
Our Ivanhowe (EG) (8-11) 3rd of 18, 1 3/4l behind Mongolian Khan (8-9) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Oct.
Big Orange 9-2 (9-3) Led, ridden and headed over 3f out, lost place 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 14 1/4l behind Max Dynamite (9-3) at York 2m Grp 2 (1) gs in Aug.
Hartnell (9-4) 5th of 14, 10 1/4l behind Winx (8-10) at Moonee Valley 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) gd in Oct.
Hokko Brave (JPN) (8-10) 10th of 18, 5 3/4l behind Mongolian Khan (8-9) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Oct.
Max Dynamite (FR) 8-1 (9-3) Held up mid-division, smooth headway 4f out, led over 2f out, soon ridden, clear 1f out, driven and stayed on strongly inside final furlong, won at York 2m Grp 2 (1) gs in Aug beating Mizzou (9-3) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
Red Cadeaux 14-1 (9-5) Held up in rear but in touch, progress to challenge over 2f out, no impression, 3rd of 6, 9 1/2l behind Agent Murphy (9-5) at Newbury 1m 5f Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Aug.
Trip To Paris (IRE) (8-9) 2nd of 18, 1/2l behind Mongolian Khan (8-9) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Oct.
Who Shot Thebarman (NZ) (8-8) 7th of 18, 5 1/4l behind Mongolian Khan (8-9) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Oct.
Sky Hunter 11-2 (9-8) In touch, headway over 3f out, every chance over 2f out, no extra final furlong, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind The Corsican (9-3) at Newbury 1m 3f Grp 3 (1) gs in Sep.
The Offer (IRE) (9-4) won at Bendigo 1m 4f Grp 3 hcp gd in Oct beating Divan (8-7) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Grand Marshal (AUS) (8-5) 11th of 18, 5 3/4l behind Mongolian Khan (8-9) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Oct.
Preferment (NZ) (9-1) 9th of 14, 12 1/2l behind Winx (8-10) at Moonee Valley 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) gd in Oct.
Quest For More (IRE) (9-4) 16th of 17, 2 1/4l behind Almoonqith (8-10) at Geelong 1m 4f Grp 3 hcp gd in Oct.
Almoonqith (USA) (8-10) won at Geelong 1m 4f Grp 3 hcp gd in Oct beating Dandino (9-1) by 1 3/4l, 17 ran.
Kingfisher (IRE) 20-1 (9-11) Held up towards rear, moderate 9th 5f out, headway and switched left under 4f out, no impression in moderate 7th 3f out, eased from over 1f out, 8th of 11, dist behind Order Of St George (9-0) at Curragh 1m 6f Grp 1 (1) gd in Sep.
Prince Of Penzance (AUS) (9-0) 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind The United States (8-11) at Moonee Valley 1m 4f Grp 2 gd in Oct.
Bondi Beach (IRE) 2-1fav (9-1) In touch, ridden and headway over 1f out, soon bumped, staying on and every chance when edged left and bumped rival inside final furlong, just held close home, awarded the race, after an appeal placed second, 2nd of 7, hd behind Simple Verse (8-12) at Doncaster 1m 7f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Sep.
Sertorius (AUS) (8-13) 9th of 17, 1 3/4l behind Almoonqith (8-10) at Geelong 1m 4f Grp 3 hcp gd in Oct.
The United States (IRE) (8-11) won at Moonee Valley 1m 4f Grp 2 gd in Oct beating Prince Of Penzance (9-0) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Excess Knowledge (8-13) won at Flemington 1m 5f Grp 3 hcp stks gs in Oct beating Zanteca (8-7) by shd, 13 ran.
Gust Of Wind (NZ) (8-0) 4th of 18, 3 3/4l behind Mongolian Khan (8-9) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Oct.
