1

Gabrial

A seven times winner during a busy 44-race career but without a victory in his last eleven starts. His best effort this season was when only 2.75L behind Solow in a G1 over this distance at Goodwood in July, but he had no chance with the winner that day and it will surely be the same again here.

2

Solow

Has developed into a brilliant performer at around 1600m, winning his last eight races including the latest four at G1 level. One of the best of those was when defeating Esoterique and six others over this straight 1600m at Royal Ascot in June. The ground conditions are likely to be slower on Saturday and that would be ideal for this fantastic French-trained five-year-old gelding - who is strongest at the end of his races. He will take some beating here.

3

Top Notch Tonto

Made the running in this event last year but dropped right away in the closing stages, having done much better in the 2013 version when justifying the decision to supplement him by running a fine second. He has been performing quite well over a variety of distances this season but a place is surely the best his supporters could hope for here.

4

Belardo

Won a Newmarket G1 over 1400m at about this time last year as a two-year-old. However as his form figures suggest he has been largely disappointing in 2015  and the use of various headgear does not seem to have helped. He did at least run better last time when a close third in a G2 over 1400m at Newmarket earlier this month. His chances in this high class event don't look very bright.

5

Elm Park

Has not quite managed so far to enhance his high class two-year-old reputation which included a G1 triumph over this distance. He ran a stinker in the Derby at Epsom when tried over 2400m but, after a break and back at this sort of distance, he gained quite an easy victory in Listed company at Sandown last month. Seems best on softish ground.

6

Gleneagles

Has raced just three times in 2015 but each time has been the stylish winner of a G1 event, including both the English and Irish 2000 Guineas when looking by far the best horse in the race on each occasion. Since then this three-year-old has missed a collection of top class engagements because of slow ground. Drying conditions are clearly important but as his rating suggests he has a huge amount of class.

7

Integral

She will need to do much better than she did in this event last year, beaten 16 lengths. She has raced just three times this season, and returned from a break after a poor effort at Royal Ascot when leading for most of the journey before being nailed late on by Esoterique over this distance at Newmarket this month.

8

Kodi Bear

A fast improving colt who clearly gets on very well with Gerald Mosse who is back in the saddle on Saturday. An infection earlier in the season has ensured he has had a light season, and he was certainly highly impressive when dismissing five good rivals in a G2 on soft ground over this distance at Goodwood in late August. His trainer thinks he is even better on good ground.

9

Territories

Just needed to be pushed out to win a G1 at Chantilly back in July, though apart from Kodi Bear who has improved dramatically since, the form of that race did not look strong for the top grade. He found the soft ground too testing when second to stablemate Esoterique in a subsequent Deauville G1 and drying conditions would help his chance.