Fresh from winning the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, Charlie Appleby also bids to win this for the first time and MODERN GAMES has leading claims. The latter progressed from winning a handicap to landing the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf last year and promises to be even stronger this term. Craven runner-up Claymore takes his chance while Bayside Boy returns to action having placed in both the Dewhurst and Futurity Stakes last autumn. Aidan O’Brien won this last year and relies on Leopardstown trial runner-up The Acropolis while Ancient Rome and stablemate Tribalist have both fallen victim to Jean-Claude Rouget’s duo Lassaut and Welwal with Cristian Demuro sticking with the former. Rock Boy is unbeaten on testing ground including a trial race at Deauville last month.
Welwal (9-2) won at ParisLongchamp 1m Grp 3 stks gs in Apr beating Mathletic (9-2) by nk, 10 ran.
Scherzo (FR) (9-3) 2nd of 5, 2l behind Ancient Rome (9-3) at ParisLongchamp 1m Grp 3 stks gs in Sep.
Texas (FR) (9-2) 4th of 10, 1 1/2l behind Welwal (9-2) at ParisLongchamp 1m Grp 3 stks gs in Apr.
Nirliit (FR) (8-13) won at Toulouse 1m lst stks hvy in Apr beating Zawaaya (8-13) by hd, 7 ran.
Making Moovies (IRE) (9-2) 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Welwal (9-2) at ParisLongchamp 1m Grp 3 stks gs in Apr.
Nesr Shalghoda (9-2) 5th of 7, 7l behind Rock Boy (9-2) at Deauville 7f Grp 3 stks hvy in Apr.
Modern Games (IRE) Evensfav (8-10) Off slw,angl out,surgd, won at Del Mar 1m gd in Nov beating Tiz The Bomb (8-10) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Tribalist (8-13) 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Lassaut (8-13) at ParisLongchamp 1m stks gs in Apr.
The Acropolis (IRE) 12-1 (9-5) Towards rear, 7th 3f out, headway 2f out, ridden in 3rd under 1f out, kept on well in 2nd closing stages, not reach winner, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Dr Zempf (9-5) at Leopardstown 7f lst stks (1) gd in Apr.
Lassaut (FR) (8-13) won at ParisLongchamp 1m stks gs in Apr beating Tribalist (8-13) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Claymore (FR) 12-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, stayed on one pace, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Native Trail (9-0) at Newmarket 1m Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Apr.
Calif (GER) (8-10) 4th of 8, 5 1/2l behind Lassaut (8-13) at ParisLongchamp 1m stks gs in Apr.
Ancient Rome (USA) (9-2) 6th of 10, 3 1/4l behind Welwal (9-2) at ParisLongchamp 1m Grp 3 stks gs in Apr.
Rock Boy (FR) (9-2) won at Deauville 7f Grp 3 stks hvy in Apr beating Loubeisien (9-2) by 1l, 7 ran.
Bayside Boy (IRE) 9-2 (9-1) Dwelt towards rear, headway 3f out, ridden and switched left approaching final furlong, driven and stayed on towards finish, 3rd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Luxembourg (9-1) at Doncaster 1m Grp 1 stks (1) sft in Oct.
Tumbler (FR) (8-13) won at Fontainebleau 1m stks gs in Apr beating Hollyhock (8-13) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
