Last year’s four-length winner BATTAASH is hard to oppose if reproducing a similar effort. Below par in the Nunthorpe at York last time, Charlie Hills’ sprinter had won a couple of Group 2 sprints earlier in the year and beat subsequent Group 1 winner Havana Grey on both occasions. The latter beat the re-opposing Mabs Cross and Sioux Nation at the Curragh and Ryan Moore sticks with the Scat Daddy colt of Ballydoyle’s four runners while City Light had been in fine form before beaten by Tantheem in a trial race over track and trip last month. Freddie Head’s filly could run a big race today but the two-year-old Soldier’s Call will find life tough against these battle-hardened sprinters having won the Group 2 Flying Childers at Doncaster last month. Alpha Delphini beat Mabs Cross in the Nunthorpe so can't be ignored.
Battaash (IRE) 4-5fav (9-11) With leaders, driven to lead narrowly inside final 2f, edged right over 1f out, soon ridden, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 4th of 15, 2 1/2l behind Alpha Delphini (9-11) at York 5f Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Aug.
City Light (FR) (9-3) 2nd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Tantheem (8-12) at Longchamp 5f Grp 3 stks gs in Sep.
Havana Grey 15-8fav (9-3) Broke well and made all, ridden under 2f out, stayed on well under pressure final furlong, all out close home, won at Curragh 5f Grp 1 stks (1) Good - Yielding in Sep beating Son Of Rest (9-4) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Lost Treasure (IRE) 6-5fav (9-9) Chased clear leader in 2nd, closed up 1 1/2f out, challenged 1f out, soon ridden to lead and length advantage, idled close home, just held on at line, won at Dundalk 6f pol in Sep beating Geological (9-11) by ns, 5 ran.
Sioux Nation (USA) 5-1 (9-3) Chased leaders in 5th, pushed along in 4th 2f out, soon ridden, 4th on outer 1f out, kept on well final furlong, went 3rd near line, never nearer, 3rd of 9, 3/4l behind Havana Grey (9-3) at Curragh 5f Grp 1 stks (1) Good - Yielding in Sep.
Declarationofpeace (USA) 100-1 (9-9) Slowly into stride, always behind, outpaced over 2f out, last of 15, 14 1/2l behind Alpha Delphini (9-11) at York 5f Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Aug.
Cox Bazar (FR) (9-4) won at Maisons-Laffitte 4f stks gs in Sep beating Eskimo Point (8-11) by 3l, 10 ran.
Gold Vibe (IRE) (8-13) 10th of 13, 7 1/4l behind Tantheem (8-12) at Longchamp 5f Grp 3 stks gs in Sep.
Hit The Bid 7-1 (9-4) Chased leaders in 3rd on outer, pushed along in 2nd from 2f out, ridden in 2nd over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong and dropped to 4th close home, 4th of 9, 1 1/4l behind Havana Grey (9-3) at Curragh 5f Grp 1 stks (1) Good - Yielding in Sep.
Alpha Delphini 40-1 (9-11) With leader, ridden inside final 2f, led narrowly inside final furlong, stayed on gamely, edged left towards finish, just held on, all out, won at York 5f Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Aug beating Mabs Cross (9-8) by ns, 15 ran.
Finsbury Square (IRE) (9-6) 5th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Tantheem (8-9) at Deauville 6f Grp 3 gd in Aug.
Tantheem (8-12) won at Longchamp 5f Grp 3 stks gs in Sep beating City Light (9-3) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Mabs Cross 14-1 (9-8) Tracked leaders, driven and headway over 1f out, soon challenged, ridden and every chance final furlong, kept on, edged left towards finish, just failed, 2nd of 15, shd behind Alpha Delphini (9-11) at York 5f Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Aug.
Different League (FR) 5-1 (9-0) Mid-division on inner, ridden along from 2f out, no impression, 6th of 9, 3 3/4l behind Havana Grey (9-3) at Curragh 5f Grp 1 stks (1) Good - Yielding in Sep.
Antonella (8-10) 4th of 13, 1 3/4l behind Tantheem (8-12) at Longchamp 5f Grp 3 stks gs in Sep.
Soldier's Call 4-1 (9-1) Broke well, made all, ridden inside final furlong, kept on well, won at Doncaster 5f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Sep beating Well Done Fox (9-1) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.
