What a great race in prospect. Eight European raiders including Ashrun, who won the Group 3 Hotham here on Saturday, and Aidan O'Brien's lightly-weighted Tiger Moth, runner-up in the Irish Derby and a very impressive Group 3 winner at Leopardstown. Last year's Epsom Derby hero Anthony Van Dyck also represents the yard and he's been in superb form, just failing to concede Verry Elleegant 8lb in the Caulfield Cup but confidently expected to reverse the form over this trip. Willie Mullins knows exactly what it takes to come here with a chance so Lonsdale Stakes runner-up Stratum Albion won't be here for the fresh air while Prince Of Arran absolutely loves the place having won the Lexus Stakes in 2018 and finished placed in this great race for the past two years. Dashing Willoughby finished last in the Caulfield Cup but that wasn't his form while Joseph O'Brien's pair Master Of Reality and Twilight Payment bid to emulate the 2017 hero Rekindling and both have been aimed for the race all year. The former Ballydoyle inmate Sir Dragonet landed the Cox Plate last time but last year's winner Vow And Declare hasn't been in anything like that kind of form this time around. The home challenge may well be headed by last year's fifth SURPRISE BABY, who got no sort of run in the Turnbull Stakes last time and has the bonus of Craig Williams in the saddle. He's been aimed at the race since a year ago and can repel the huge raiding party.
Anthony Van Dyck (IRE) (9-3) 2nd of 0, hd behind Verry Elleegant (8-9) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 hcp in Oct.
Avilius (AUS) (9-0) 6th of 0, 2 1/2l behind Verry Elleegant (8-9) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 hcp in Oct.
Vow And Declare (AUS) (9-0) 15th of 0, 8 1/4l behind Verry Elleegant (8-9) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 hcp in Oct.
Master Of Reality (IRE) 1-2fav (9-7) Tracked leaders, headway into 2nd halfway, led under 3f out, pushed along and 2 lengths clear 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong, won at Down Royal 1m 6f lst (1) Yielding in Sep beating Barbados (9-7) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Sir Dragonet (AUS) (9-4) won at Moonee Valley 1m 2f Grp 1 sft in Oct beating Armory (8-13) by 1 1/4l, 14 ran.
Twilight Payment (IRE) 9-2 (9-11) Chased leaders, 3rd 2f out, ridden in 2nd 2f out, 3rd 1 1/2f out, kept on same pace in 3rd final furlong, 3rd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Search For A Song (9-8) at Curragh 1m 6f Grp 1 (1) gd in Sep.
Verry Elleegant (AUS) (8-9) won at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 hcp in Oct beating Anthony Van Dyck (9-3) by hd, 0 ran.
Mustajeer (AUS) (8-9) 8th of 0, 3 3/4l behind Verry Elleegant (8-9) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 hcp in Oct.
Stratum 20-1 (9-3) In touch, headway over 2f out, ridden and stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Enbihaar (9-0) at York 2m Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Aug.
Dashing Willoughby (8-8) 18th of 0, 26 1/2l behind Verry Elleegant (8-9) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 hcp in Oct.
Finche (8-8) 5th of 0, 2 1/4l behind Verry Elleegant (8-9) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 hcp in Oct.
Prince Of Arran (8-8) 4th of 0, 1 3/4l behind Verry Elleegant (8-9) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 hcp in Oct.
Surprise Baby (AUS) 11-1 (8-6) 5th of 24, 1/2l behind Vow And Declare (8-3) at Flemington 2m Grp 1 hcp gd in Nov.
Russian Camelot (AUS) (8-13) 3rd of 14, 2l behind Sir Dragonet (9-4) at Moonee Valley 1m 2f Grp 1 sft in Oct.
Steel Prince (AUS) Nathaniel gelding out of Steel Princess.
The Chosen One (AUS) (8-6) 3rd of 0, 3/4l behind Verry Elleegant (8-9) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 hcp in Oct.
Ashrun (FR) (9-4) 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Call The Wind (9-4) at Deauville 1m 7f Grp 2 sft in Aug.
Warning (AUS) (8-5) 12th of 0, 4 3/4l behind Verry Elleegant (8-9) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 hcp in Oct.
Etah James (AUS) (8-0) won at Randwick 2m Grp 1 hcp sft in Apr beating The Chosen One (8-6) by hd, 12 ran.
Tiger Moth (IRE) 5-6fav (9-3) Chased leaders, moderate 4th halfway, closer entering straight and 2nd 2f out, led over 1f out, ridden to assert and soon drew clear, kept on well, easily, won at Leopardstown 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Sep beating Silence Please (9-0) by 4l, 12 ran.
Oceanex (AUS) (8-7) 5th of 12, 2 3/4l behind Life Less Ordinary (9-0) at Randwick 1m 2f Grp 3 stks sft in Apr.
Miami Bound (AUS) Reliable Man M out of Arapaho Miss.
Persan (AUS) Pierro H out of Ofcourseican.
King Of Leogrance (FR) (8-7) 3rd of 11, 2l behind Kentucky Breeze (8-10) at Moonee Valley 1m 2f gd in Sep.
