1

Age Of Empire

Benefitted from the experience of his first start and also moving up to this distance when easily winning a maiden at York late last month. Like so many of his rivals here he is capable of plenty of further improvement.

2

Air Force Blue

From a stable that needs a lot of respect in a race like this and he was electric from the gates on his only start - a 1200m maiden at The Curragh last month. At one point he looked like winning that race easily only to tire in the closing stages and cling on for a neck victory. He looks very fast.

3

Beaverbrook

Has improved with experience and also with stepping up to 1216m when routing his opposition in a maiden at Chester late last month, swiftly into his stride and looking to have the race won a long way out. Some of these rivals will be harder to bully.

4

Black Beach

The betting has suggested that he has not been fancied in either of his races but he has run well in both, especially when only 2.5L in 3rd behind the likely favourite in this race - Round Two - in a Listed event over 1000m at The Curragh last month.

5

Buratino

Has experience on his side and a good winning record into the bargain, having won three of his five starts. By far the most impressive came when he roared down the Epsom straight to beat his rivals by 6L and upwards in a nine-runner Listed contest over this distance at Epsom this month. It was hard not to be impressed.

6

Destroyer

Has been beaten over 6L on each of his starts and though he showed improvement second time out at Haydock he surely won't have enough speed to cope with some hot rivals here.

7

Eltezam

Made a hot favourite to win on his second start following an encouraging beginning, and he duly got the job done by beating nine rivals in that 1200m maiden at Haydock last month. The ground was good that day but his trainer thinks he'll be better on a faster surface.

8

Finnegan

US trainer Wesley Ward has enjoyed plenty of success with these two-year-old raiders at Royal Ascot so one can imagine that this colt will be fancied. He has shown a lot of pace on both his starts notably when surging to an easy 5L victory on a fast turf surface at Pimlico last month. That was over 1000m but his breeding certainly does not put one off him over this longer distance.

9

First Selection

Housed with a first season trainer who is already scoring at a high strike-rate and this colt has contributed by winning both his starts. Those wins were both over 1000m, but he was doing his best work in the closing stages of the latter Beverley win and the move up in distance could bring further improvement.

10

Maccus

This prestigious prize immediately came onto his menu after he had shown some smart acceleration to win a 1200m maiden at Windsor 22 days prior to this event. From a stable having a good time with their youngsters this season but this will be tough challenge.

11

Ocean Eleven

Ran an encouraging first race when a close third in a 1200m maiden at Newmarket last month. However the form of that race looks weak and he will surely struggle here.

12

Ode To Evening

Had clearly benefitted from his first start as he thumped his 12 rivals by 9 lengths and upwards in a maiden over this distance at Ripon earlier this month, leading just about all the way against the stands' rail. He is clearly smart.

13

Qeyaadah

From a stable that aren't renowned for first-time-out two-year-old winners but he managed to win quite a strong-looking maiden over 1207m at Newbury last month. A scopey type who can find plenty more improvement though he'll need to find more to win at this level.

14

Round Two

Described as a 'quick learner' by his esteemed Irish trainer, and he is likely to start favourite for this challenge after two stylish victories. Especially good was his defeat of a highly regarded Aidan O'Brien trained rival and eight others in a Listed race at The Curragh last month. That was over 1000m but this distance is thought to be much more suitable.

15

Sign Of The Kodiac

Two fairly promising runs out of two so far though neither suggest that he has any serious chance in this G2 clash with so many speedy looking two-year-olds involved.

16

Sir Roger Moore

Looked very inexperienced for his first start, missing the break and then racing too freely. However he was getting into his stride towards the end of that 1200m York maiden last month and looks a promising type, though this is a big step up for just his second start.

17

War Department

A lovely looking colt who won a maiden over this distance at Leicester on his only start. That was especially good as he had been very inexperienced at the gates, by far the slowest of the nine runners to get into their stride. He easily caught up however and then surged clear impressively.

18

Young John

Ran a respectable second to today's rival Buratino on his debut and followed up by winning when a well-supported favourite, a good effort since he was hampered badly when leaving the gates that day at Chester. His nearest victim has also boosted the form by winning since.