Verdict

This race has been a happy hunting ground for UK and Irish raiders over the years. Tangerine Trees plundered the prize last season with Wizz Kid and Beyond Desire behind and Secret Asset second. Sole Power was beaten only a head in third and arrives in fine form this year having won at Doncaster last month. He had earlier finished seventh in the Nunthorpe at York when Hamish McGonagall and Humidor ran well and Tiddliwinks and Monsieur Joe failed to figure. The latter has since won a Group 3 over C&D on his preferred slow ground but it's stablemate and Nunthorpe runner-up, SPIRIT QUARTZ, that makes most appeal. Headed in the closing stages by Ortensia at York, Robert Cowell's spinter was a winner in soft ground when trained in Italy and regular partner Frankie Dettori can steer him to victory in this. Mayson landed the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket in tremendous style and Richard Fahey's charge is another with leading claims on his first start since.

Formwatch

Monsieur Joe (IRE) 9-4fav (8-12) Prominent, challenged for lead over 1f out, led final furlong, ran on well, won at Longchamp(FR) 5f Grp 3 (1) gs in Sep beating Inxile (8-12) by 3/4l, 7 ran.

Taajub (IRE) 6-1 (9-0) Covered over 2f before pulled up after false start, chased leaders, one pace when not much room and switched left over 1f out, stayed on to 3rd in closing stages, not pace of leading duo, 3rd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Swiss Spirit (8-13) at Newbury 5f Grp 3 (1) gf in Sep.

Mayson 20-1 (9-5) Raced centre, with leader, led after 1f, made rest, ridden clear entering final furlong, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Newmarket 6f Grp 1 (1) hvy in Jul beating The Cheka (9-5) by 5l, 12 ran.

Inxile (IRE) 3-1 (8-12) Led, headed final furlong, kept on well, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Monsieur Joe (8-12) at Longchamp(FR) 5f Grp 3 (1) gs in Sep.

Ballesteros 5-1 (8-13) Off the pace in 4th, headway to chase leaders halfway, weakening when hampered well over 1f out, 6th of 7, 12l behind Night Carnation (8-10) at Bath 6f cond Stakes (3) gs in Sep.

Borderlescott 25-1 (9-7) Chased leaders far side, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 14th of 26, 8l behind Captain Ramius (9-0) at Ayr 6f hcp (2) hvy in Sep.

Swiss Spirit 3-1fav (8-13) Covered over 2f before pulled up after false start, steadied start, held up in rear, headway centre inside final 2f, led inside final furlong, driven and all out, won at Newbury 5f Grp 3 (1) gf in Sep beating Kingsgate Native (9-0) by shd, 10 ran.

Humidor (IRE) 50-1 (9-11) Mid-division, ridden and headway 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, not able to get to leaders, 4th of 19, 2 3/4l behind Ortensia (9-8) at York 5f Grp 1 (1) gd in Aug.

Secret Asset (IRE) 20-1 (9-1) Raced near side, welll off the pace, no chance when hampered over 1f out, 16th of 17, 12l behind Ortensia (9-5) at Goodwood 5f Grp 2 (1) gd in Aug.

Sole Power 5-2fav (9-9) Held up towards rear, not much room over 1f out, switched right entering final furlong, squeezed through rivals and quickened nicely inside final furlong, readily, won at Doncaster 5f listed stks (1) gd in Sep beating Jwala (9-3) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.

Spirit Quartz (IRE) 14-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, closed over 1f out, led inside final furlong, headed close home, 2nd of 19, nk behind Ortensia (9-8) at York 5f Grp 1 (1) gd in Aug.

Hamish McGonagall 14-1 (9-11) Led, raced alone towards far side, edged right 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, held when not much room close home, 3rd of 19, 1 1/2l behind Ortensia (9-8) at York 5f Grp 1 (1) gd in Aug.

Tiddliwinks 8-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, ridden to dispute lead and every chance inside final furlong, no extra in closing stages, 5th of 10, 1 3/4l behind Swiss Spirit (8-13) at Newbury 5f Grp 3 (1) gf in Sep.

Definightly 9-4fav (9-10) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, improved to challenge 2f out, ridden in 2nd over 1f out, no extra in 3rd inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 4l behind Fire Lily (9-3) at Curragh 6f Grp 3 (1) in Aug.

Govinda (USA) (9-4) Led, ridden 2f out, headed inside final furlong, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Ferro Sensation (9-4) at Baden-Baden(GER) 6f Grp 2 (1) gs in Aug.

Tangerine Trees 25-1 (9-11) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, no extra towards finish, 10th of 19, 4 1/2l behind Ortensia (9-8) at York 5f Grp 1 (1) gd in Aug.

Beyond Desire 33-1 (9-8) Prominent, ridden over 1f out, kept on, not pace of leaders, 5th of 19, 3l behind Ortensia (9-8) at York 5f Grp 1 (1) gd in Aug.

Wizz Kid (IRE) 9-1 (9-0) Behind, soon outpaced, ridden and some headway on outside over 1f out, stayed on into mid-division inside final furlong, never near leaders, 6th of 13, 5l behind Society Rock (9-3) at Haydock 6f Grp 1 (1) fm in Sep.

Cay Verde 15-2 (9-1) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase leader and every chance over 1f out, outpaced inside final furlong, weakened to 4th final 125 yards, 4th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Moohaajim (9-1) at Newbury 6f 2yo Grp 2 (1) gf in Sep.