CIRRUS DES AIGLES has won three of the last five renewals and went close to making it four last year when disqualified having passed the post first. He was judged to have interfered with the re-opposing Fractional on that occasion and the latter was awarded the race but Corine Barande-Barbe's veteran can take his revenge this time round. French Navy's defeat of Arod back in April now looks stronger form in hindsight and Charlie Appleby's charge goes well fresh but Air Pilot has the more recent form for Ralph Beckett having won a Group 3 at the Curragh in June. Elliptique is another Group 3 winner and has the beating of Free Port Lux but the in-form Zipzip takes a big step up in class along with Al Waab.
Cirrus Des Aigles (FR) 8-1 (9-7) Held up, 5th early, soon 6th, pushed along from 3f out, dropped to last from 2f out, no extra from over 1f out, last of 7, 10 3/4l behind Golden Horn (9-0) at Leopardstown 1m 2f Grp 1 stks (1) Yielding in Sep.
Al Waab (IRE) 25-1 (8-13) 2nd of 8, 4l behind Gailo Chop (8-13) at Maisons-Laffitte 1m 2f Grp 3 stks sft in Sep.
Air Pilot 8-15fav (9-9) Made all. ridden 2f out, strongly pressed over 1f out, stayed on well under pressure final furlong, won at Curragh 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Jun beating Parish Hall (9-12) by 1 1/4l, 3 ran.
Elliptique (IRE) 6-1 (9-1) 6th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Bello Matteo (9-1) at Deauville 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Aug.
French Navy 3-1fav (8-13) Held up, switched to outer over 1f out, headway entering final furlong, quickened to lead inside final furlong, edged right and soon eased, won at Newmarket 1m 1f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Apr beating Arod (8-13) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Fractional (IRE) 5-2fav (9-1) 5th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Bello Matteo (9-1) at Deauville 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Aug.
Free Port Lux 16-1 (9-2) 5th of 8, 6 1/4l behind Postponed (9-2) at Longchamp 1m 4f Grp 2 sft in Sep.
Zipzip (IRE) (8-12) won at Longchamp 1m 2f lst stks (1) sft in Sep beating Puzzle Time (8-9) by shd, 8 ran.