Emmet Mullins doesn’t waste journeys though he’ll be hoping for testing conditions for the jumper Zero Ten. His compatriot SEARCH FOR A SONG, runner-up to Trueshan in the Champion Long Distance Cup at Ascot a year ago, bounced back to her best with an impressive victory in a Group 3 at the Curragh and looks the one to beat. Kemari couldn’t quite cope with the odds-on Manobo in a Group 2 here three weeks ago but looks certain to make a bold bid to go one better. Valia started a short-priced favourite for a Group 1 over 1m6f here last time and though never in contention stayed on to be beaten just two lengths. She’s very closely matched with Skazino on earlier form on this track while Glycon steps up in trip and class. Scope, from an in-form yard, landed an Ascot Listed contest by seven lengths and Quickthorn was narrowly beaten in the Ebor at York in August.
Quickthorn 10-3 (9-2) Led, steadied pace approaching halfway, ridden and headed entering final 2f, no chance with winner when lost 2nd over 1f out, weakened into 4th inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 10l behind Hukum (9-5) at Ascot 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Oct.
Glycon (FR) (9-4) won at Deauville 1m 4f Grp 2 gd in Aug beating The Good Man (9-4) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Lord Achilles (FR) (8-13) won at Saint-Cloud 1m 4f stks gs in Sep beating Whispering Ocean (8-13) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Skazino (FR) (9-2) 4th of 13, 7 1/2l behind Trueshan (9-2) at ParisLongchamp 2m 4f Grp 1 sft in Oct.
Zero Ten (IRE) 15-8fav (10-13) Towards rear, 7th halfway, progress 3f out, improved to 2nd behind clear leader over 1f out, ridden and ran on well under 1f out, not reach winner, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Gee Rex (9-13) at Tramore 1m 4f hcp sft in Aug.
Alkuin (IRE) (9-2) 9th of 13, 21 3/4l behind Trueshan (9-2) at ParisLongchamp 2m 4f Grp 1 sft in Oct.
Call The Wind (9-2) 6th of 13, 11 1/4l behind Trueshan (9-2) at ParisLongchamp 2m 4f Grp 1 sft in Oct.
Valia (FR) (9-4) 3rd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Loving Dream (8-11) at ParisLongchamp 1m 6f Grp 1 sft in Oct.
Search For A Song (IRE) 15-8 (9-8) In touch in rear early, headway into 5th 5f out, close 3rd on inner 3f out, led travelling well 2 1/2f out, ridden clear 2f out, well clear and stayed on strongly final furlong, easily, won at Curragh 2m Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Sep beating The Mediterranean (9-1) by 9 1/2l, 8 ran.
Bel Aristo (FR) (8-11) won at Saint-Cloud 1m 6f lst stks sft in Oct beating Good Question (9-4) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Kemari (9-2) 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Manobo (9-2) at ParisLongchamp 1m 7f Grp 2 sft in Oct.
Scope (IRE) 13-8fav (9-1) Led, headed 12f out, led chasing group all of 10 lengths off leader, ridden and closed over 1f out, led inside final furlong, soon clear, won at Ascot 1m 6f lst stks (1) gs in Oct beating Chalk Stream (9-1) by 7 1/2l, 6 ran.