This looks an open renewal with Ribblesdale winner Magic Wand, runner-up in last month’s Prix Vermeille here, making most appeal of the Ballydoyle trio ahead of last year’s winner Rhododendron and Athena. She drops back in distance today but Prix Rothschid winner With You is back up in trip having gone close in the French Oaks at Chantilly back in June with Castellar behind. A winner on this card last year, WILD ILLUSION (NAP) is another with strong claims after returning to her very best in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes over today’s trip at Goodwood in August. She needs to reverse earlier running at Ascot with Magic Wand but beat Urban Fox a couple of lengths in the Nassau and the latter has subsequently suffered a narrow-margin defeat in Group 1 company at Deauville, with both Navaro Girl and Lady Frankel behind, so the form looks pretty solid. Charlie Appleby’s filly should make a bold bid in this but the other Godolphin filly Winter Lightning and Desert Diamond look up against it.
Urban Fox (8-13) 2nd of 10, nk behind Nonza (8-13) at Deauville 1m 2f Grp 1 stks gd in Aug.
Lady Frankel (8-13) 4th of 10, 2 1/4l behind Nonza (8-13) at Deauville 1m 2f Grp 1 stks gd in Aug.
L'arc (JPN) (9-4) last of 8, 13l behind Mrs Sippy (8-10) at Longchamp 1m 4f lst stks gd in Sep.
Rhododendron (IRE) 14-1 (9-4) Tracked leader early, soon raced in 3rd, a little keen, switched right from 2f out, soon not much room between horses and one pace, 6th of 7, 6 3/4l behind Roaring Lion (9-1) at Leopardstown 1m 2f Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Sep.
Navaro Girl (IRE) (8-13) 3rd of 10, 2l behind Nonza (8-13) at Deauville 1m 2f Grp 1 stks gd in Aug.
Desert Diamond 5-2fav (9-0) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden to lead under 2f out, under pressure and headed over 150 yards out, kept on one pace, no impression on winner close home, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind I'm So Fancy (9-6) at Curragh 1m 1f Grp 3 fll stks (1) Good - Yielding in Sep.
Athena (IRE) 40-1 (8-12) Raced in 6th early, soon 5th, a little keen, pushed along 2f out, 4th 1f out, one pace, 4th of 7, 4 1/4l behind Roaring Lion (9-1) at Leopardstown 1m 2f Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Sep.
Castellar (FR) (8-13) won at Deauville 1m 2f Grp 2 stks gs in Aug beating Rock My Love (8-13) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Homerique (USA) (8-10) 7th of 11, 5l behind Recoletos (9-4) at Longchamp 1m Grp 1 stks in Sep.
My Sister Nat (FR) (8-11) won at Longchamp 1m 1f Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Sep beating Awesometank (8-11) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Wild Illusion 4-1 (8-13) Made all set even pace, quickened over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Goodwood 1m 2f Grp 1 fll stks (1) gd in Aug beating Urban Fox (9-7) by 2l, 6 ran.
Winter Lightning (IRE) 5-2 (8-11) Close up, tracked leaders 6f out, ridden and found nil 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 9, 10l behind Sheikha Reika (8-11) at Yarmouth 1m 2f lst fll stks (1) gf in Sep.
Well Timed (GER) (8-9) 6th of 8, 8 1/2l behind Kitesurf (9-3) at Longchamp 1m 4f Grp 1 stks gs in Sep.
With You (8-9) 3rd of 11, 6l behind Alpha Centauri (8-9) at Deauville 1m stks gd in Aug.
Magic Wand (IRE) (8-9) 2nd of 8, hd behind Kitesurf (9-3) at Longchamp 1m 4f Grp 1 stks gs in Sep.
Night Of England 10-3 (8-11) 6th of 11, 5 1/2l behind Sky Full Of Stars (9-4) at Baden-Baden 1m 4f Grp 2 gd in Sep.
