DEAUVILLE is the top rated here and, though the 2016 Belmont Derby winner has never quite reached those heights again, his third to Roaring Lion and Saxon Warrior in the Irish Champion Stakes confirmed his status at the highest level. Degas, a regular winner at Group level in Germany, was unlucky in-running in a Group 2 at San Siro in October. Dream Castle, a son of Frankel, didn't do as well as expected here last season but is probably capable of better while the tough Arod landed a Listed contest at Windsor in May. James Doyle has chosen Key Of Victory of Charlie Appleby's trio though the stable's Salsabeel can go well as he made a successful debut here last January and has only had two subsequent runs. Beaten a short-head in a Deauville Group 3 in August, he has a moderate draw to overcome but Brett Doyle knows his way around here. The 2017 winner Light The Lights is drawn on the wide outside and may have to wait for another day while Royal Hunt Cup winner Settle For Bay hasn't run since his Royal Ascot triumph.
Team Talk 14-1 (9-0) last of 12, dist behind North America (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f Grp 1 stks fst in Mar.
Musaddas (9-5) 12th of 0, 27 1/4l behind Dormello (9-2) at Meydan 1m 2f hcp in Mar.
Deauville (IRE) 40-1 (9-7) Soon led, joined 2f out, soon headed, slightly impeded over 1f out where 3rd, one pace, 3rd of 7, 3l behind Roaring Lion (9-1) at Leopardstown 1m 2f Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Sep.
Furia Cruzada (CHI) 5-1 (8-9) 5th of 9, 8 1/2l behind Cosmo Charlie (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f lst stks in Dec.
Degas (EG) (9-2) 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Anda Muchacho (9-2) at San Siro 1m gd in Oct.
Bay Of Poets (IRE) 3-1 (9-0) last of 10, 13 3/4l behind Janoobi (9-0) at Meydan 1m Grp 2 (1) gd in Feb.
Key Victory (IRE) 7-2fav (9-0) Held up towards rear, headway on outside edging right 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 6th of 16, 6 1/2l behind Hunting Horn (9-0) at Ascot 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Jun.
Gm Hopkins (9-2) 13th of 14, 15 1/2l behind Forjatt (9-2) at Abu Dhabi 1m gd in Dec.
Arod (IRE) 10-1 (9-4) Led until inside final furlong, no extra, last of 8, 2 3/4l behind Beat The Bank (9-7) at Goodwood 1m Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Aug.
Escalator 7-2 (9-3) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, driven clear inside final furlong, ran on strongly, won at Leicester 1m hcp (2) gs in Oct beating Third Time Lucky (9-5) by 3l, 8 ran.
Dream Castle 11-1 (9-0) 11th of 13, 34 1/2l behind Kimbear (9-0) at Meydan 1m Grp 3 stks fst in Mar.
Settle For Bay (FR) 16-1 (9-1) Raced centre, steadied start, held up towards rear, good headway chasing leaders over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, clear inside final furlong, ran on strongly, won at Ascot 1m hcp (2) gf in Jun beating Afaak (9-5) by 2 1/4l, 30 ran.
Salsabeel (IRE) (8-11) 2nd of 9, shd behind Graphite (8-11) at Deauville 1m Grp 3 gd in Aug.
Racing History (IRE) (9-6) 6th of 7, 24 1/4l behind Iquitos (9-6) at Munich 1m 4f Grp 1 sft in Nov.
Hornsby (9-2) 5th of 14, 4l behind Forjatt (9-2) at Abu Dhabi 1m gd in Dec.
Light The Lights (SAF) (9-0) won at Abu Dhabi 1m 3f gf in Mar beating Janszoon (8-13) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
