1
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Adaay
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Has won five of his 16 starts but has never made an impact at G1 level and the evidence also suggests that 1600m is beyond his optimum.
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2
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Barchan
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Has been used as a pacemaker for more serious Godolphin candidates and with Ribchester in the field that will surely be his role again here.
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3
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Breton Rock
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A former handicapper who has developed into an effective Group class gelding as he showed when coming from a poor position off a slow gallop to land a G2 over 1400m last time. However he's never won over 1600m plus this G1 level against younger more progressive rivals is likely to be too hot.
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4
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Hathal
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From a stable that has enjoyed a terrific autumn spell and Hathal returned from a long break to post a career best when getting the better of a tight finish on soft ground at Haydock. That was a G3 however and this is a red hot G1.
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5
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Lightning Spear
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Back on the quick surface that suits him best, he showed smart acceleration from a difficult position to win a G2 over this distance at Goodwood last time. His trainer reckons there were excuses for two modest G1 performances on his two previous starts.
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6
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Mitchum Swagger
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Only one disappointment from an eight race career and at his best last time when only beaten in a tight finish to a G3 at Haydock. However plenty more needed against G1 rivals here, though soft ground would help.
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7
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Awtaad
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He is expected to go to stud after this start, having so far won five of his eight starts- including a G1 defeat of Galileo Gold at the Curragh back in May. A comfortable G2 winner last time, his chances here would be enhanced by softening ground.
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8
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Galileo Gold
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Too keen when favourite for a G1 at Deauville last time, but, though only eighth, it was not a total disaster as he was only 3 ¼ lengths behind winner Ribchester. He has a good chance here if able to recapture some outstanding G1 performances - including here at Ascot - earlier in the year. Ridden prominently.
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9
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Hit It A Bomb
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Not trainer Aidan O'Brien's major contender with Minding in this field, and he has also been a beaten favourite on both his starts this season. However he did win a G1 in the USA at about this time last year and can't be completely dismissed.
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10
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Ribchester
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Each race he has run in this year he has looked better, and his G1 defeat of 10 rivals at Deauville in August - with the likes of Galileo Gold well behind - was surely a career best - also proving his suitability for a straight 1600m which he encounters again here. Versatile groundwise, he must be a major player.
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11
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Stormy Antarctic
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Effective on easy ground and over this distance. However although he has run respectably on his four G1 efforts - including over Deauville's straight 1600m last time - ratings suggest he won't be quite good enough for this big task.
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12
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Jet Setting
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A very cheap purchase who hit the headlines when winning the Irish 1000 Guineas (1600m) at The Curragh, leading for most of the way. She put a couple of modest starts behind her when thrashing her rivals in a G3 recently. She loves soft ground.
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13
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Minding
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Has won seven of her 11 starts and ran another cracker last time when third in a red-hot G1 over 2000m at Leopardstown last month. Back in distance but she's won two G1s over 1600m. From the unstoppable O'Brien stable, she's top class and super consistent.
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