Verdict

Only a couple of favourites have obliged in the last 10 years. Last year's runner-up, Ermyn Lodge, looks to have been laid out for this though he arrived in much better form last time and 2010 winner, Aaim To Prosper, hasn't won again since. Motivado failed to land a gamble in the Ebor but ran well for fourth and has claims along with Doncaster Cup third Hurricane Higgins. Tominator finished fourth at Doncaster last time just ahead of Western Prize with Blue Bajan, Martyr and subsequent winner O Ma Lad further behind while Triumph Hurdle winner Countrywide Flame beat Martial Law at Chester on last month's return to action and should figure. Beyond was well beaten in this last year along with Sentry Duty but ran well over 2m5f at Goodwood when Hurricane Higgins won and makes more appeal than stablemate Ashbrittle. Three-year-olds don't have a great recent record although Montaser and I Have A Dream are both respected but the speculative vote goes to OLYMPIAD. Dermot Weld's lightly-raced colt beat Very Good Day over 2m at York last time and will stay every yard of today's marathon trip.

Formwatch

Aaim To Prosper (IRE) 14-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, pushed along from halfway, ridden 3f out, stayed on same pace final 2f, 6th of 13, 9l behind Caucus (9-3) at Newmarket 2m Listed stks 3yo (1) gd in Sep.

Motivado 7-2fav (8-12) Held up mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, lost 3rd place towards finish, 4th of 19, 2l behind Willing Foe (9-2) at York 1m 6f hcp (2) gs in Aug.

Address Unknown 12-1 (9-9) Tracked leader, ridden over 3f out, lost place when not much room over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 13, 42l behind Sir Graham Wade (8-9) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp 105 (2) fm in Sep.

Hurricane Higgins (IRE) 25-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, headway over 3f out, challenged 2f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on towards finish, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Times Up (9-1) at Doncaster 2m 2f Grp 2 (1) gd in Sep.

Tominator 11-1 (9-13) Held up in rear, headway entering final furlong, ridden inside final furlong, kept on towards finish, 4th of 12, 1/2l behind Sir Graham Wade (9-5) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp (2) gd in Sep.

Icon Dream (IRE) 7-1 (9-3) Led, ridden over 3f out, headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 13, 12l behind Tominator (9-0) at Chester 1m 5f listed hcp 0-110 (1) gd in Sep.

Martyr 25-1 (9-3) Led 1f, tracked leader, led travelling well 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Caucus (9-3) at Newmarket 2m Listed stks 3yo (1) gd in Sep.

Blue Bajan (IRE) 10-1 (9-12) Tracked leaders, soon dropped into 6th, ridden over 1f out, one pace and hampered inside final furlong, 9th of 12, 4l behind Sir Graham Wade (9-5) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp (2) gd in Sep.

Olympiad (IRE) 9-2fav (8-10) Chased leaders, smooth headway on bit over 3f out, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on well, ridden out, won at York 2m hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Aug beating Very Good Day (8-12) by 1 1/2l, 16 ran.

Lyric Street (IRE) 11-2 (9-4) Tracked leaders, driven over 2f out, soon ridden, no extra final furlong, 6th of 13, 6l behind Sir Graham Wade (8-9) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp 105 (2) fm in Sep.

Astral Thunder (ARG) 33-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, driven to challenge over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 9, 14l behind Lady Kashaan (8-1) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp 0-100 (2) hvy in Sep.

I Have A Dream 8-1 (9-12) Prominent and led after 3f, strongly pressed and headed approaching straight, rallied to lead 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, all out, won at Leopardstown 1m 6f hcp gd in Sep beating Call Me Bubbles (8-3) by nk, 14 ran.

Very Good Day (FR) 16-1 (8-12) Held up in mid-division, headway 3f out, not clear run and switched sharply right inside final 2f, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 16, 1 1/2l behind Olympiad (8-10) at York 2m hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Aug.

Ermyn Lodge 6-1 (9-12) Tracked leading pair, lost place 3f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, last of 10, 10l behind Address Unknown (9-11) at Ascot 2m hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Aug.

Western Prize 16-1 (9-5) Close up, ridden inside final furlong, kept on, 6th of 12, 1/2l behind Sir Graham Wade (9-5) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp (2) gd in Sep.

Montaff 9-1 (10-0) Dwelt in rear, ridden over 5f out, never on terms, 7th of 9, well behind Countrywide Flame (9-9) at Chester 2m hcap (3) gs in Sep.

Right Stuff (FR) 33-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 8, 23l behind Eagles Peak (9-11) at Goodwood 1m 4f hcp 105 (2) sft in Sep.

Lordofthehouse (IRE) 14-1 (9-3) Reluctant to go to post, refused to race, in a race won by Caucus (9-3) at Newmarket 2m Listed stks 3yo (1) gd in Sep, 13 ran.

Nafaath (IRE) 11-1 (9-3) Mid-division, pushed along 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 13th of 20, 37l behind Hurricane Higgins (9-10) at Goodwood 2m 5f hcp 0-95 (2) gd in Aug.

Stormy Weather (FR) 6-1 (9-9) In rear, headway on outer over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on to lead post, won at Thirsk 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Sep beating White Nile (8-12) by hd, 8 ran.

Countrywide Flame 9-4fav (9-9) Made most, ridden over 2f out, stayed on strongly, won at Chester 2m hcap (3) gs in Sep beating Ardlui (9-7) by 3/4l, 9 ran.

Sentry Duty (FR) 25-1 (9-6) Towards rear when hampered 1f out, never on terms, 9th of 20, 22l behind Hurricane Higgins (9-10) at Goodwood 2m 5f hcp 0-95 (2) gd in Aug.

Bernie The Bolt (IRE) 10-1 (9-5) Held up headway over 6f out, went 3rd over 3f out, kept on one pace from over 1f out, 5th of 18, 7l behind Domination (8-9) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp 105 (2) gf in Sep.

Ashbrittle 14-1 (8-8) Fractious in stalls and slowly away, lost all chance and always in rear, 15th of 16, 17l behind Olympiad (8-10) at York 2m hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Aug.

Beyond (IRE) 9-1 (8-7) Led, clear after 5f until over 3f out, ridden and headed 2f out, soon lost 2nd, no extra in 4th inside final furlong, 4th of 20, 2 3/4l behind Hurricane Higgins (9-10) at Goodwood 2m 5f hcp 0-95 (2) gd in Aug.

Alhellal (IRE) 7-1 (8-8) Led early, soon settled back to track leaders in 3rd, 2nd and challenged over 2f out, soon ridden to lead, strongly pressed and kept on under pressure inside final furlong, stayed on best close home, won at Down Royal 1m 5f hcp sft in Jun beating Rattan (8-5) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.

Cosimo De Medici 9-2 (8-13) Slowly away, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 9, 8l behind Los Nadis (7-13) at Ayr 2m 1f hcp (3) hvy in Sep.

Cry For The Moon (USA) 10-1 (9-7) Settled in rear, ridden entering straight, no threat and kept on one pace, 12th of 14, 6l behind I Have A Dream (9-12) at Leopardstown 1m 6f hcp gd in Sep.

Albert Bridge 7-1 (9-12) With leader, led 9f out on outer, made rest, ridden and held on well towards finish, won at Ayr 1m 5f hcp 0-90 (3) hvy in Sep beating Lady Kashaan (8-13) by 1/2l, 9 ran.

Kepler's Law 11-4 (9-7) Took keen hold, held up in close 4th, headway to 2nd 7f out, pushed along 4f out, driven inside final 3f, lost 2nd 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 5, 6l behind Robin Hoods Bay (8-12) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Sep '11.

Martial Law (IRE) 13-2 (9-2) Slowly into stride in rear, ridden over 5f out, headway under pressure from 3f out, ran on final furlong, not reach leaders, 3rd of 9, 2 3/4l behind Countrywide Flame (9-9) at Chester 2m hcap (3) gs in Sep.

Decoy (FR) (9-4) 6th of 7, 39l behind Irish Queen (9-1) at Les Sables(FR) 1m 5f stk gs in Jun '10.

Dark Ranger 20-1 (9-2) Mid-division, headway 3f out, ridden 2f out, went 3rd inside final furlong until towards finish, 4th of 18, 6l behind Domination (8-9) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp 105 (2) gf in Sep.

O Ma Lad (IRE) 14-1 (9-12) Held up towards rear, headway on outside over 2f out, switched left well over 1f out, chased leader over 1f out, stayed on to lead well inside final furlong, won at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Sep beating Den Maschine (9-10) by nk, 13 ran.

Montaser (IRE) 3-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, led over 1f out, edged left entering final furlong, headed well inside final furlong, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Handsome Man (8-11) at Yarmouth 1m 6f hcp (2) gf in Sep.