European runners have dominated this event over the years and St Nicholas Abbey added his name to the list in 2011 after defeat in the Arc. He's followed a similar path this time around as he floundered in the testing ground at Longchamp last time but will take the beating back on firm ground. The home team fancy they have one to beat him this year in the highly progressive POINT OF ENTRY. The winner of his last five starts on Turf including a hat-trick of Grade 1 races, he beat another Ballydoyle runner in Treasure Beach and Arlington Million winner Little Mike, to land the Joe Hirsch at Belmont last time. Shug McGaughey's colt looks the real deal and gets the vote. Shareta also struggled in the Arc on heavy ground but the Yorkshire Oaks heroine will be more at home on this surface while recent Grade 2 winner Slim Shadey makes more appeal than Dullahan. Brian Meehan's former inmate Cogito attempts the longer trip for the first time with Frankie Dettori on board
Point Of Entry (USA) 3-4fav (9-0) Floated 5w into lane, won at Belmont Park(USA) 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) in Sep beating Treasure Beach (9-0) by 1 3/4l, 6 ran.
Turbo Compressor (USA) 6-4fav (8-12) Came out str,2nd best, 2nd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Slim Shadey (8-9) at Santa Anita(USA) 1m 2f Grp 2 fm in Oct.
St Nicholas Abbey (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) 11th of 18, 16l behind Solemia (9-2) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gs in Oct.
Treasure Beach 9-2 (9-0) Drifted 4w into lane, 2nd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Point Of Entry (9-0) at Belmont Park(USA) 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) in Sep.
Shareta (IRE) 14-1 (9-2) 9th of 18, 13l behind Solemia (9-2) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gs in Oct.
Cogito (USA) 14-5 (8-6) Outside, mild kick, 4th of 8, 4l behind King David (8-0) at Belmont Park(USA) 1m 1f 3yo Grp 1 (1) gd in Oct.
Little Mike (USA) 9-4 (9-0) Well rate ins, retreat, 5th of 6, 29l behind Point Of Entry (9-0) at Belmont Park(USA) 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) in Sep.
Kindergarden Kid (USA) 3-1 (8-9) Rail run,split leaders, won at Keeneland(USA) 1m 4f Grp 3 fm in Oct beating Ioya Bigtime (8-11) by nk, 7 ran.
Dullahan (USA) 17-10fav (8-11) Angle out 1/4,no kick, 5th of 8, 4 1/2l behind King David (8-0) at Belmont Park(USA) 1m 1f 3yo Grp 1 (1) gd in Oct.
Optimizer (USA) 16-5 (8-6) Dueled inside,drew off, won at Delaware Park(USA) 1m 1f 3yo Grp 3 fm in Sep beating Excaper (8-4) by 4 1/2l, 11 ran.
Slim Shadey 16-5 (8-9) Inside,cleared,held, won at Santa Anita(USA) 1m 2f Grp 2 fm in Oct beating Turbo Compressor (8-12) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
Trailblazer (JPN) 5-1 (8-9) Came out str,willingly, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Obviously (8-12) at Santa Anita(USA) 1m Grp 2 fm in Oct.