Richard Hannon won last year's renewal with Olympic Glory but the latter had achieved more than this year's representative Barley Mow coming into the race. Aidan O'Brien has won this prize on numerous occasions though not since 2006. Wilshire Boulevard has decent claims this year having finished second in the Gimrack at York in soft ground, but it could pay to stick with KARAKONTIE. He picked up a Group 3 race over track and trip last month and Jonathan Pease's colt is just preferred to Noozhoh Canarias. The latter remains unbeaten after winning a Listed event in the French provinces with Another Party well behind and Christophe Soumillon takes over the reins today. Baby Foot makes more appeal than Charm Spirit of the remainder.
Al Muthana (FR) (8-11) 5th of 10, 4 1/2l behind This Time (8-8) at Chantilly(FR) 5f 2yo Grp 3 sft in Sep.
Charm Spirit (IRE) 4-5fav (8-11) won at Longchamp(FR) 7f 2yo stk gd in Sep beating Army Bulletin (8-13) by 1 3/4l, 4 ran.
Noozhoh Canarias (SPA) (9-2) won at La Teste De Buch(FR) 6f stk gd in Aug beating Elusive Pearl (8-12) by 3l, 7 ran.
Wilshire Boulevard (IRE) 4-1 (8-12) Behind, slightly outpaced 3f out, switched right over 2f out, headway under pressure over 1f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, closed on winner and went 2nd near finish, just held, 2nd of 7, nk behind Astaire (8-12) at York 6f 2yo Grp 2 (1) sft in Aug.
Another Party (8-11) 2nd of 10, shd behind This Time (8-8) at Chantilly(FR) 5f 2yo Grp 3 sft in Sep.
Karakontie (JPN) 4-1 (8-11) won at Longchamp(FR) 7f 2yo Grp 3 (1) gd in Sep beating Decathlete (8-11) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Barley Mow (IRE) 2-1 (9-0) Took keen hold tracking leading pair on rail, ridden over 1f out, soon switched left, stayed on to 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 3l behind Be Ready (9-0) at Doncaster 7f Listed stks 2yo (1) gs in Sep.
Baby Foot (IRE) 4-1 (8-11) 2nd of 11, shd behind Ectot (8-11) at Deauville(FR) 1m 2yo lst stk (1) gs in Aug.
