Aidan O’Brien has won this four times since 2011 and relies on Battleground. The latter won the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood in good style and this extra distance shouldn’t be a problem. He’s preferred to compatriot and Group 2 winner Cadillac, who will appreciate the return to a mile having come up short in the Dewhurst last time when behind fourth-placed Devilwala. The latter’s stablemate New Mandate continued his good progress with victory in the Royal Lodge at Newmarket and makes more appeal than The Lir Jet and Go Athletico while it was bottomless ground when Sealiway romped home in a Group 1 at Longchamp on Arc day. Mutasaabeq won a Grade 2 here on his first outing on Turf while Gretzky The Great landed a Grade 1 at Woodbine in good style and makes more appeal than Outadore. Fire At Will led at a crawl in the Pilgrim Stakes at Belmont and it paid off when beating the odds-on PUBLIC SECTOR. But a fast pace is more likely today and, having followed the same path here as last year’s winner, Chad Brown’s colt is fancied to reverse running and go close.
Sealiway (FR) (8-13) won at ParisLongchamp 7f Grp 1 hvy in Oct beating Nando Parrado (8-13) by 8l, 6 ran.
New Mandate (IRE) 9-4fav (9-0) Keen close up in rear, switched right and headway over 2f out, quickened to lead when edged left approaching final furlong, pushed out, readily, won at Newmarket 1m Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Sep beating Ontario (9-0) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Abarta (USA) 16-1 (8-6) Urged,fade,alter 8p1/8, 2nd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Mutasaabeq (8-6) at Keeneland 1m stks gd in Oct.
Public Sector 5-6fav (8-8) Ins,4w5/16,gd courage, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Fire At Will (8-8) at Belmont Park 1m stks gd in Oct.
Cadillac (IRE) 4-1 (9-1) Close up, pushed along 3f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, 5th of 14, 4 1/4l behind St Mark's Basilica (9-1) at Newmarket 7f Grp 1 stks (1) sft in Oct.
Mutasaabeq (USA) 2-1fav (8-6) Slw st,circle8w,strong, won at Keeneland 1m stks gd in Oct beating Abarta (8-6) by 2 1/4l, 11 ran.
Fire At Will (USA) 13-1 (8-8) Ins,moderate pace,held, won at Belmont Park 1m stks gd in Oct beating Public Sector (8-8) by 2l, 6 ran.
Outadore (USA) 9-5fav (8-8) 3wd str, drove clear, won at Kentucky Downs 6f stks sft in Sep beating Fauci (8-8) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
Battleground (USA) 13-8fav (9-1) Raced wide in touch, headway 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran on, won at Goodwood 7f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Jul beating Devious Company (9-1) by 2l, 10 ran.
Ebeko (IRE) 17-5 (8-6) Fanned 4wd,bid,got up, won at Santa Anita 1m stks gd in Oct beating Tarantino (8-8) by shd, 7 ran.
Gretzky The Great (USA) 12-5fav (8-10) Came in str,widened, won at Woodbine 1m stks gd in Sep beating Ready To Repeat (8-10) by 3 1/4l, 7 ran.
Go Athletico (FR) (9-2) 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Plainchant (8-12) at Chantilly 6f Grp 2 hvy in Oct.
Devilwala (IRE) 100-1 (9-1) Led, ridden 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, stayed on, 4th of 14, 2 3/4l behind St Mark's Basilica (9-1) at Newmarket 7f Grp 1 stks (1) sft in Oct.
The Lir Jet (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Close up, pushed along and unable to quicken 2f out, ridden and stayed on final furlong, 5th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Supremacy (9-0) at Newmarket 6f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Sep.
Barrister Tom (USA) 8-1 (8-8) 5-3p1st,stalkd,wkn upr, 8th of 11, 9 1/4l behind Mutasaabeq (8-6) at Keeneland 1m stks gd in Oct.
Harlan Estate (USA) 13-5 (8-10) 3wd rally,late duel,up, won at Santa Anita 1m mdn gd in Oct beating Petruchio (8-10) by nk, 9 ran.
