Five of the eight are course and distance winners including the last two winners of this. Lunar Jet won in 2020 but is 5lb out of the handicap while last year's winner Dubai Souq ran poorly in three early-summer starts though has been waiting for the ground to ease. William Haggas has acquired Millebosc from France and the four-year has won on heavy ground at Deauville. Third behind St Mark's Basilica in last year's French Derby he's fallen well below that standard in recent races. Scotch Mistress showed her liking for testing ground when just failing to peg back Harswell Duke over a mile at Leicester but this can go to her stablemate EEETEE, a winner over the track and trip and at York in August and unlucky not to finish closer on the latter track last month.
Millebosc (FR) 11-1 (9-3) Raced in fifth on inside, dropped to rear over 1f out, never dangerous, last of 7, 3 1/2l behind Wally (9-3) at Chantilly 1m Grp 3 gd in Jul.
Yorkshire Lady 8-1 (9-10) Raced wide early, held up towards rear, came towards near side in home straight, headway chasing leaders over 2f out, edged left under pressure and weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 16, 3 1/2l behind Titian (9-4) at York 1m 2f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Dubai Souq (IRE) 11-2 (9-3) Tracked leaders, chased clear leader 3f out, ridden to lead briefly 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 10, 7 1/4l behind Vulcan (8-12) at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp (3) pol in Jun.
First Impression (IRE) 13-2 (9-9) Raced wide tracked leaders 2f, steadied back towards rear, ridden and headway 2f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 9, 5 1/4l behind Mr Alan (9-12) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Eeetee (IRE) 12-1 (9-3) Held up off the pace towards rear, headway when not clearest of runs and squeezed through inside final 2f, soon ridden, stayed on inside final furlong, not quite pace to reach leaders, 4th of 16, 1 1/2l behind Titian (9-4) at York 1m 2f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Knightswood (IRE) 11-4 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 5, 9l behind Nader (9-5) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in Oct.
Scotch Mistress 17-2 (9-8) Close up, ridden and headway over 2f out, edged left and stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Harswell Duke (9-10) at Leicester 1m hcp (4) hvy in Oct.
Lunar Jet 14-1 (8-13) Close up, pushed along and outpaced 3f out, ridden and kept on approaching final furlong, 6th of 9, 13 3/4l behind Mr Alan (9-12) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
