Verdict

Last year's Gold Cup winner Fame And Glory is the obvious class act here though he's yet to race on Dirt. However, he's become a bit disappointing recently and capitulated very quickly in the Group 3 Long Distance Cup at Ascot last time after looking the likely winner. Eldaafer won this at Churchill Downs in 2010 and though well beaten last year has looked on his way back to his best in his last couple of runs. He beat Not Abroad at Del Mar earlier but the latter has subsequently won over 1m4f and may well reverse running here. The three-year-old ATIGUN has been competing at Grade 1 level though over shorter trips. He was a strong-finishing third behind Union Rags when tackling 1m4f for the only time in the Belmont Stakes in June and gets the vote on that form. Worth Repeating won a Grade 3 over 1m4f here last year and arrives in very good heart and Commander makes more appeal than the Dermot Weld-trained Sense Of Purpose.

Formwatch

Atigun (USA) 14-1 (8-10) Outside, no bids, 4th of 10, 8l behind Flat Out (9-0) at Belmont Park(USA) 1m 2f fll stks Grp 1 in Sep.

Fame And Glory 11-2 (9-7) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, ridden and headed 1f out, lost 2nd final 100 yards, no extra in 4th well inside final furlong, dropped to 5th post, 5th of 9, 2 1/2l behind Rite Of Passage (9-7) at Ascot 2m Grp 3 (1) sft in Oct.

Balladry (USA) 55-1 (8-7) 3wd 1st turn,gave way, last of 9, 24l behind Game On Dude (8-12) at Santa Anita(USA) 1m 1f fll stks Grp 1 (1) in Sep.

Grassy (USA) 18-1 (8-7) Chased,btwn foes wire, 4th of 10, 4l behind Slim Shadey (8-9) at Santa Anita(USA) 1m 2f Grp 2 fm in Oct.

Jaycito (USA) 19-10 (8-7) Off bit slow,willingly, 3rd of 5, 3/4l behind Comma To The Top (8-10) at Santa Anita(USA) 1m 3yo stks in Oct.

Calidoscopio (ARG) (9-8) won at Palermo(ARG) 1m 4f Grp 2 in Jun, 7 ran.

Not Abroad (USA) 7-2 (8-11) Rail trip,drove clear, won at Laurel Park(USA) 1m 1f 3yo stks in Oct beating Regal Warrior (8-7) by 4l, 6 ran.

Romp (ARG) 15-4 (8-8) 3wd move,bid,led late, 3rd of 8, 3/4l behind Let's Do It (8-8) at Santa Anita(USA) 1m 2f Classified Claiming Stakes (0-80) (3yo+) fm in Oct.

Almudena (9-4) 3rd of 14, 4l behind Al Qasr (9-6) at San Isidro(ARG) 1m 4f Grp 1 hvy in May.

Eldaafer (USA) 20-1 (8-2) Prompted pace,resisted, 3rd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Pool Play (8-2) at Hawthorne(USA) 1m 2f Grp 2 hcp (1) in Oct.

Commander (USA) 9-20fav (8-11) Pressed,led,prevailed, won at Hastings Racecourse(USA) 1m 3f Group 3 stks (3yo+) in Oct beating Jebrica (8-5) by hd, 8 ran.

Sense Of Purpose (IRE) 7-2fav (9-12) Soon tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden and weakened entering straight, eased 1 1/2f out, 10th of 12, 26l behind Montebell (8-6) at Curragh 1m 4f fll hcp in Sep.

Juniper Pass (USA) 2-1 (8-5) Pressed 3w,outfnshd, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Control Seeker (8-6) at Fresno(USA) 1m 1f 3yo stks in Oct.

Worth Repeating (USA) 3-1 (8-7) Bid 1/4, powered away, won at Fairplex(USA) 1m 1f 3yo stks in Sep beating Quail Hill (8-3) by 5l, 9 ran.