Verdict

Wesley Ward’s duo, Four Wheel Drive and Kimari, head the ante-post betting. The former returned an impressive winner of a Grade 3 sprint over 6f at Belmont to remain unbeaten while the latter has won twice since going very close in the Queen Mary at Ascot in June behind Raffle Prize. But A’ALI won the Norfolk Stakes at Ascot a day later with Ballydoyle’s King Neptune behind and has subsequently beaten the re-opposing Dream Shot and Alligator Alley when successful in the Flying Childers at Doncaster. Frankie has partnered him to all three Group 2 successes and Simon Crisford’s colt has the ability to make a bold bid in this. Cambria is a third Wesley Ward runner having narrowly beaten Chimney Rock at Keeneland last time but Tom Dascombe’s Dr Simpson and the Archie Watson-trained Band Practice have something to prove at this level, as does Joseph O’Brien’s reserve Air Force Jet.

Formwatch

Chimney Rock (USA) 17-5 (8-6) Rally 4wd, not enough, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Kimari (8-5) at Keeneland 5f stks gd in Oct.

Band Practice (IRE) (8-9) won at Chantilly 5f lst stks gs in Sep beating Divine Spirit (8-9) by 3/4l, 8 ran.

Another Miracle (USA) 5-1 (8-10) 2w1/2,3w upper,empty, 5th of 6, 4 1/4l behind Four Wheel Drive (8-10) at Belmont Park 6f stks gd in Oct.

Dream Shot (IRE) 6-1 (8-7) Mid-division, pushed along halfway, ridden and switched right over 1f out, 7th 150 yards out, kept on well on outer to go 2nd close home, 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind Dr Simpson (8-4) at Dundalk 5f Grp 3 stks (1) pol in Oct.

Encoder (USA) 9-10fav (8-12) 3wd into str,bid btwn, 4th of 7, 3 3/4l behind Hit The Road (8-10) at Santa Anita 1m stks gd in Oct.

Alligator Alley Evensfav (9-1) Held up in touch, ridden and weakened 1f out, 6th of 7, 5l behind A'ali (9-1) at Doncaster 5f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Sep.

Kimari (USA) 11-10fav (8-5) Bmpd st, circled field, won at Keeneland 5f stks gd in Oct beating Chimney Rock (8-6) by 1/2l, 9 ran.

Dr Simpson (FR) 16-1 (8-4) Led, joined after 2f and headed halfway, pushed along 2f out, ridden and led again over 1f out, under pressure and kept on well inside final furlong, reduced advantage close home, won at Dundalk 5f Grp 3 stks (1) pol in Oct beating Dream Shot (8-7) by 3/4l, 13 ran.

Four Wheel Drive (USA) 20-21fav (8-10) Ins trn,3w,out bit 1/8, won at Belmont Park 6f stks gd in Oct beating Freewheeler (8-8) by 3l, 6 ran.

A'Ali (IRE) 6-4 (9-1) Chased leader, edged left over 1f out, led inside final furlong, pushed out, won at Doncaster 5f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Sep beating Dream Shot (9-1) by 1l, 7 ran.

King Neptune (USA) 66-1 (9-0) Led and soon clear, ridden and headed entering final furlong, kept on one pace, 4th of 8, 2 1/2l behind Earthlight (9-0) at Newmarket 6f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Sep.

Cambria (USA) 8-1 (8-6) Steadied into turn, won at Kentucky Downs 6f stks gd in Sep beating Chimney Rock (8-9) by hd, 11 ran.

Bulletproof One (USA) 11-2 (8-9) Tight 1/4,brush late, 2nd of 10, hd behind El Tigre Terrible (8-8) at Santa Anita 5f stks gd in Oct.

Air Force Jet 10-3 (9-9) Made all, still travelling smoothly from 2f out, pushed along to assert from over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, won at Navan 5f hcp gf in Sep beating Punita Arora (9-6) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.

Fore Left (USA) 2-1 (8-12) Fought back 2wd lane, won at Santa Anita 6f stks fst in Oct beating Strongconstitution (8-10) by nk, 4 ran.

Karak (USA) 9-5 (8-10) Solid bmp st,2w,6w1/8, 4th of 6, 3 3/4l behind Alms (8-8) at Belmont Park 6f stks gd in Oct.