Verdict

WOOTTON BASSETT is reportedly over whatever ailed him earlier in the year and Richard Fahey and Paul Hanagan will be hoping he can provide them with a first classic success. Unbeaten in five starts culminating in a Group 1 success over 7f here in October when today's rivals Maiguri and Tin Horse occupied the places, he's obviously high class and though his earlier problems leave a question mark his overall form is far superior to that of these rivals. Andre Fabre hasn't overfaced Modern History who won a Listed contest at Toulouse last month. He'll need to step up markedly on that but is probably capable of doing so. He just has the beating of Glaswegian on earlier running though the latter improved to land a Group 3 here last time where he had several of these behind. Imperial Rome's scrambled victory in a Curragh Listed race doesn't look good enough nor does the form of Godolphin's supplemented Wood Ditton winner Midsummer Fair.

Formwatch

Glaswegian 10-1 (9-2) won at Longchamp(FR) 1m stk gd in Apr beating Rosanabad (9-2) by nk, 11 ran.

Havane Smoker (9-2) 2nd of 6, hd behind Surfrider (9-2) at Maisons-Laffitte(FR) 7f 3yo stk gd in Apr.

Venomous (8-13) won at Saint-Cloud(FR) 1m 3yo stk gd in Apr beating Kreem (9-4) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.

Surfrider (IRE) (9-2) won at Maisons-Laffitte(FR) 7f 3yo stk gd in Apr beating Havane Smoker (9-2) by hd, 6 ran.

Maiguri (IRE) 10-1 (9-2) 8th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Glaswegian (9-2) at Longchamp(FR) 1m stk gd in Apr.

Barocci (JPN) 4-1 (9-2) 4th of 11, 1/2l behind Glaswegian (9-2) at Longchamp(FR) 1m stk gd in Apr.

Wootton Bassett 4-1 (8-13) Led, quickened over 2f out, ran on well, impressive, won at Longchamp(FR) 7f 2yo Grp 1 (1) sft in Oct beating Maiguri (8-13) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.

Midsummer Fair (USA) 6-1 (9-3) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, soon pressed, ridden clear final furlong, won at Newmarket 1m 3yo mdn (4) gf in Apr beating Air Traffic (9-3) by 3l, 13 ran.

Modern History (IRE) (8-11) won at Toulouse(FR) 1m stk gd in Apr beating Etive (8-8) by 3/4l, 6 ran.

Imperial Rome (IRE) 6-4fav (9-1) Tracked leaders on far rail, 4th halfway, challenged between horses 1f out, soon led, ridden and kept on well, held on closing strides, won at Curragh 7f 3yo lst stk (1) gf beating Zabarajad (9-1) by hd, 8 ran.

Temps Au Temps (IRE) 20-1 (9-2) 10th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Glaswegian (9-2) at Longchamp(FR) 1m stk gd in Apr.

Tin Horse (IRE) 7-1 (9-2) 3rd of 11, 1/2l behind Glaswegian (9-2) at Longchamp(FR) 1m stk gd in Apr.

Hung Parliament (FR) 11-1 (9-2) 98th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Glaswegian (9-2) at Longchamp(FR) 1m stk gd in Apr.

Salto (IRE) 2-1fav (9-2) 6th of 11, 1l behind Glaswegian (9-2) at Longchamp(FR) 1m stk gd in Apr.

Private Jet (FR) 16-1 (9-2) 7th of 11, 2l behind Glaswegian (9-2) at Longchamp(FR) 1m stk gd in Apr.