Aidan O'Brien won seven of the 10 renewals leading up to and including 2006. He will be looking for JOHANNES VERMEER to end the drought after the latter won a Group 3 at Leopardstown last month - the trainer should have a good line on the form having sent out Air Force Blue to beat today's rival Herald The Dawn in the Group 1 National Stakes at the Curragh. The latter had earlier beaten Shogun and is one of three sporting Godolphin's colours for different trainers. He's preferred to both Ultra and Cymric though Goodwood's Vintage Stakes winner Galileo Gold and First Selection, who landed the Solario at Sandown, could prove tougher opponents. Ventura Storm and No Education may struggle but Group 3 winner Attendu is going the right way and looks best of the home team.
First Selection (SPA) 4-1fav (9-1) Made all, ridden over 1f out, stayed on gamely final furlong, won at Sandown 7f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Aug beating Manaafidh (9-1) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Galileo Gold 9-2 (9-1) Held up, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, ran on well, won at Goodwood 7f Grp 2 stks (1) gs in Jul beating Ibn Malik (9-1) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Rougeoyant (FR) 5-2fav (9-2) 4th of 6, 7 3/4l behind Robin Of Navan (8-11) at Deauville 1m lst stks sft in Aug.
Cymric (USA) 1-3fav (9-1) Tracked leaders, pushed along 2f out, went 2nd over 1f out, led and edged left inside final furlong, ran on, won at Sandown 7f stks (3) sft in Sep beating Risk Adjusted (8-12) by 1 1/4l, 4 ran.
Herald The Dawn (IRE) 5-2fav (9-3) Took keen hold early, raced in 3rd, pushed along from 3f out, challenged 2f out, soon on terms, headed 1f out, one pace final furlong, 2nd of 5, 3l behind Air Force Blue (9-3) at Curragh 7f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Sep.
Ultra (IRE) (8-13) won at Longchamp 1m stks gd in Sep beating Royal Julius (8-13) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
No Education 28-1 (8-11) 2nd of 6, nk behind Robin Of Navan (8-11) at Deauville 1m lst stks sft in Aug.
Ventura Storm (AUS) 11-4fav (9-5) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Salisbury 1m stks (4) sft in Sep beating Justice Law (9-5) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Shogun (IRE) 11-8fav (9-3) Tracked leader, pushed along under 3f out, dropped to 3rd over 2f out, soon no impression, one pace, 3rd of 4, 5 3/4l behind Herald The Dawn (9-3) at Curragh 7f Grp 2 stks (1) Yielding - Soft in Aug.
Johannes Vermeer (IRE) 5-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, soon 3rd, pushed along to challenge into straight, on terms 2f out, gained narrow lead 1 1/2f out, stayed on well final furlong, won at Leopardstown 1m Grp 3 stks (1) Yielding in Sep beating True Solitaire (9-3) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Attendu (FR) 6-1 (8-11) won at Longchamp 7f Grp 3 stks gd in Sep beating Lawmaking (8-11) by hd, 6 ran.
