G1 – 1600m – Turf
| 1 | Addeybb | A former handicapper (he had today’s rival Lord Glitters behind him in a top early-season UK handicap) who showed his prowess for Group racing with a stylish G2 victory over a similar trip to this at Sandown in April. Has been waiting for slow ground which he’ll get here. |
| 2 | Beat The Bank | Fancied for this last year but raced too freely and never looked happy, finishing 10th. However he does have winning form at Ascot and was at the top of his game last time when surviving a difficult passage to win a G2 at Goodwood. Not very big but all heart, and versatile groundwise. |
| 3 | Century Dream | Seems to like the straight 1600m at Ascot judging by his close 4th in a G1 here in June, especially as the ground was faster than ideal that day. His last two starts have also been good considering again the ground was too fast and these conditions should be ideal. |
| 4 | Gabrial | Massively experienced having won nine of his 86 career starts. He ran 5th of 20 in the Balmoral Handicap Stakes over 1600m last year but has only won one of his 15 starts since and is nearly impossible to fancy in this hot G1 affair. |
| 5 | Lightning Spear | Made a G1 breakthrough at his 16th attempt when surviving some traffic to finish strongly and win over this distance at Goodwood in August. Couldn’t quite get into top gear in time when 5th at Longchamp last time. Has run well over Ascot’s straight 1600m before. |
| 6 | Lord Glitters | Came with a sweeping late surge from the back to win the Balmoral Handicap Stakes over a mile last year, running two more really good Ascot efforts when narrowly beaten in a G1 and G2 this year. A G3 York winner since but could never quite reach the leaders on a firm surface at Woodbine, Canada, last month. |
| 7 | Recoletos | The numbers suggest that he’s even better this season than in 2017, with two G1 triumphs latterly when really motoring in the last 200m and then putting his head down at the right moment to land a G1 over this distance at Longchamp last month. |
| 8 | Stormy Antarctic | Extremely consistent and having a rewarding 2018 season, taken abroad to win a G3 at Saint-Cloud and a G2 at Baden-Baden. He also ran a fine 3rd in a G1 at Woodbine last month on a turf surface that was faster than ideal. He’s a specialist at this trip. |
| 9 | Aljazzi | This G1 event is usually won by well-fancied contenders and Aljazzi does not fit that profile, having been well beaten in G1 company including at Newmarket this month. She did win a G2 over the straight 1600m here, but seems to need fast ground. |
| 10 | Hey Gaman | A three-times winner including at Listed level but doesn’t look one of Frankie Dettori’s most obvious winners on the day as he generally doesn’t look good enough to win at a G1 level. Always prominent he ran a good 3rd in a Longchamp G2 last time. |
| 11 | Roaring Lion | Back in distance (but well proven at 1600m) because of worries of soft ground over Ascot’s turning track. Has developed into a champion middle distance performer with G1 wins at Sandown, York and Leopardstown on his last three starts – showing devastating acceleration each time. |
| 12 | Romanised | Had shown ability at two however it still came as a big shock when he accelerated from way off the pace to easily beat 10 rivals in a G1 at The Curragh in May. However that was on fast ground, and this slow surface doesn’t look ideal. |
| 13 | Happily | Does not have an easy life, running in G1’s for all of her last nine starts. As a two-year-old she won two of those G1’s – both on slow ground and one at this distance. She has a tremendous attitude as she showed when only just held after a terrific tussle with Laurens at Newmarket this month. |
| 14 | I Can Fly | Very well regarded by her top stable early this year but she proved disappointing on various occasions. In much better form when coming with a sustained surge to win a fast ground G2 over 1600m at Leopardstown last month. Struggled last time. |
| 15 | Laurens | A fantastic moneyspinner winning seven of her ten starts and gaining her 5th G1 triumph on her latest start when leading for the last 1000m over 1600m at Newmarket this month. Most of her wins are gained narrowly, a tribute to her toughness. Doesn’t want very soft ground. |
