Last year’s winner Technician had landed the Geoffrey Freer at Newbury earlier and MAX VEGA finished runner-up in the latter race in August with a subsequent Listed winner behind. Frankie takes over the reins today and Ralph Beckett’s colt won a Group 3 in soft going at Newmarket last term with Mythical behind. The Ballydoyle colt has placed in Group 3 company this season but Step By Step is preferred having finished runner-up over track and trip last time and has the beating of Listed winner Mykiss on collateral form. Valia steps up in distance with a shout and is preferred to winning handicapper Nemean Lion.
Step By Step (FR) (8-13) 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Paix (8-10) at ParisLongchamp 1m 7f Grp 3 stks gs in Sep.
Nemean Lion (GER) (9-4) won at ParisLongchamp 1m 4f hcp gs in Sep beating Silver Cristal (9-2) by 2l, 16 ran.
Mykiss (FR) (8-13) won at Clairefontaine 1m 4f lst stks (1) gd in Aug beating Hayzum (8-13) by 3l, 9 ran.
Mythical (FR) 66-1 (9-1) Pressed leader, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 10th of 11, 26 1/4l behind Galileo Chrome (9-1) at Doncaster 1m 7f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Sep.
Max Vega (IRE) 6-1 (8-9) Led and set even pace, given breather 6f out, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Hukum (8-9) at Newbury 1m 5f Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Aug.
Valia (FR) (8-11) 8th of 10, 7 1/4l behind Tarnawa (9-5) at ParisLongchamp 1m 4f Grp 1 gd in Sep.
