Aidan O’Brien has saddled the runner-up in this contest four times in the past but CIRCUS MAXIMUS may prove good enough this time. The St James’s Palace Stakes winner arrives on the back of a victory in the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp and is preferred of the European contingent including Hey Gaman and Group 2 winner Space Traveller. Danny Tudhope partners the latter rather than Lord Glitters or stablemate Suedois, who found Bowies Hero too good in a Grade 1 at Keeneland last month. Uni has been supplemented for $100,00 after breaking the course record at Keeneland but was no match for Got Stormy at Saratoga before that when failing to get a clear run while the latter subsequently fell victim to shock winner El Tormenta in the Woodbine Mile along with Lucullan. Without Parole has failed to repeat last year’s success at Ascot and has been switched to Chad Brown’s yard since well beaten in the Lockinge back in May.
Lucullan (USA) 6-4 (8-8) 5w upper, inched away, won at Belmont Park 1m 1f stks gd in Oct beating Olympico (8-12) by 1l, 6 ran.
Space Traveller 13-2 (9-3) Waited with in rear, pushed along into straight and raced on outer and headway, stayed on well final furlong to lead closing stages, won at Leopardstown 1m Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Sep beating Matterhorn (9-8) by nk, 9 ran.
Trais Fluors (9-2) 3rd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Villa Rosa (8-12) at Maisons-Laffitte 1m 2f hcp gd in Sep.
True Valour (IRE) 16-1 (8-9) Came out str,rallied, won at Santa Anita 1m stks gd in Oct beating Restrainedvengence (8-9) by hd, 11 ran.
Got Stormy (USA) 6-4fav (8-11) Outgamed final 1/8, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind El Tormenta (8-11) at Woodbine 1m stks gd in Sep.
El Tormenta (USA) 40-1 (8-11) Blocked,found seam,drv, won at Woodbine 1m stks gd in Sep beating Got Stormy (8-11) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Circus Maximus (IRE) (8-12) won at ParisLongchamp 1m Grp 1 gd in Sep beating Romanised (9-3) by shd, 11 ran.
Without Parole 7-1 (9-0) Raced keenly, chased leaders near side of group, ridden and weakened over 2f out, virtually pulled up final furlong, last of 14, dist behind Mustashry (9-0) at Newbury 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gd in May.
Uni 3-1 (8-12) Drove past, drew away, won at Keeneland 1m stks gd in Oct beating Juliet Foxtrot (8-12) by 2 1/2l, 13 ran.
Lord Glitters (FR) 11-2 (9-4) Behind, pushed along over 3f out, some late headway, never dangerous, 8th of 16, 8 3/4l behind King Of Change (9-1) at Ascot 1m Grp 1 stks (1) hvy in Oct.
Hey Gaman (9-2) 6th of 12, 6 1/4l behind One Master (8-12) at ParisLongchamp 7f Grp 1 sft in Oct.
Bowies Hero (USA) 8-1 (9-0) Rallied str, edged clr, won at Keeneland 1m stks gd in Oct beating Diamond Oops (9-0) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
Next Shares (USA) 18-1 (9-0) Inside trip, bid, hung, 6th of 14, 1l behind Bowies Hero (9-0) at Keeneland 1m stks gd in Oct.
Suedois (FR) 20-1 (9-0) 8path 1/4, gaining, 3rd of 14, 3/4l behind Bowies Hero (9-0) at Keeneland 1m stks gd in Oct.
Bolo (USA) 12-1 (8-13) 3w,drift in str,no bid, 10th of 11, 7 1/4l behind True Valour (8-9) at Santa Anita 1m stks gd in Oct.
Caribou Club (USA) 7-2 (8-8) 4wd upper, driving, won at Laurel Park 1m stks gd in Sep beating Frontier Market (8-8) by hd, 7 ran.