This is more open than the betting suggests. Flintshire is a class act on his day but was never going to catch Treve in the Arc last time. Telescope looked sure to go on to better things having won the Group 2 Hardwicke at Ascot in great style but has come up short in Group 1 races subsequently. Brown Panther landed his first win at the highest level over 1m6f in the Irish St Leger but was aimed at the Canadian International originally where he unseated in the preliminaries. With last year's winner Magician withdrawn, Aidan O'Brien relies on CHICQUITA. The 2013 Irish Oaks winner has a tendency to drift left, as she did at Ascot last time, without a rail to guide her. But she will get that here and Frankie Dettori may prove an inspired booking if he can grab the inside rail in the homestretch. Main Sequence won a Group 3 when trained in the UK and has rattled up a hat-trick of Grade 1 events for Graham Motion this year. He looks the best of the home challengers along with Hardest Core, who beat Magician in the Arlington Million last time.
Telescope (IRE) 5-1 (9-6) Held up in touch in 4th, pushed along over 3f out, driven and close up 2f out, soon edged left, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Australia (8-12) at York 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) gf in Aug.
Twilight Eclipse (USA) 7-1 (9-0) Tracked ins, missed, 2nd of 7, nk behind Main Sequence (9-0) at Belmont Park(USA) 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Sep.
Imagining (USA) 33-10 (9-0) In hand ins, kept on, 3rd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Main Sequence (9-0) at Belmont Park(USA) 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Sep.
Brown Panther 14-1 (9-11) Chased leader clear of remainder, closed 5f out, led 2 1/2f out, soon clear, stayed on well final furlong, won at Curragh 1m 6f Grp 1 (1) gf in Sep beating Leading Light (9-11) by 7l, 11 ran.
Hangover Kid (USA) 13-1 (9-0) Saved ground no avail, 5th of 7, 3 1/2l behind Main Sequence (9-0) at Belmont Park(USA) 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Sep.
Finnegans Wake (USA) 7-1 (8-7) 4wd into str,rallied, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Bright Thought (8-7) at Santa Anita(USA) 1m 2f grd stk gd in Sep.
Flintshire 16-1 (9-5) 2nd of 20, 2l behind Treve (9-2) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Oct.
Hardest Core (USA) 11-1 (9-0) Rail to 1/4, rallied, won at Arlington(USA) 1m 2f Grp 1 gd in Aug beating Magician (9-0) by 1l, 7 ran.
Starspangled Heat (USA) 7-1 (8-6) Inside trip,up 3rd, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Pure Tactics (8-8) at Santa Anita(USA) 1m grd stk gd in Oct.
Chicquita (IRE) 7-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders on outside, 2nd well over 2f out, led and edged right 2f out, veered badly left under pressure inside final furlong, soon headed, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 10, 2 3/4l behind Madame Chiang (8-12) at Ascot 1m 4f Group 1 fll stks (3yo+) (1) hvy in Oct.
Main Sequence (USA) 19-10 (9-0) Awkward st, good kick, won at Belmont Park(USA) 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Sep beating Twilight Eclipse (9-0) by nk, 7 ran.
Big John B (USA) 9-10fav (8-12) 3wd into str,best rest, 3rd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Bright Thought (8-7) at Santa Anita(USA) 1m 2f grd stk gd in Sep.
Magician (IRE) 9-5fav (9-0) Ask 3/8, led 3/16-1/16, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Hardest Core (9-0) at Arlington(USA) 1m 2f Grp 1 gd in Aug.
