Spotlight: Unproven on ground worse than good to yielding; it sounds incredible but less than four months ago he was eighth when 250-1 in a 1m maiden, yet now he's won a maiden, a Listed event and gained Classic success at Doncaster in the St Leger; those wins each came with steps up in trip and the style of his St Leger triumph over an extended 1m6f suggests the transformation may still not be complete, as 2m looks like suiting him even better.

Spotlight: Sole Group win was the 1m6f Queen's Vase here in 2023 but he was third in the 2m Group 1 Goodwood Cup the following season, among other smart performances; long layoff (including wind surgery) before this season in which he's won Listed races at York (1m6f) in June and Newmarket (2m) in September; 4-7 in the latter but scored by 11l pretty much as he pleased, so he's at least as good as ever; sights are raised substantially but he's a major contender.

Spotlight: Disappointed twice this summer but his fortunes have turned around spectacularly with a switch to blinkers and tongue-tie; won a weak Doncaster Cup (2m2f, good) on first occasion but followed up by narrowly getting the better of staying star Scandinavia in the Cadran at Longchamp (2m4f; for second year running) two weeks ago; he's a star himself (that was his third French Group 1 win) with the best form in this line-up and he needs great respect despite going back to 2m.

Spotlight: Unbeaten in 2026, having led in the closing stages at the Newmarket Guineas meeting (1m4f), Royal Ascot (1m6f, again good to firm) and in the Ebor at York (1m6f, good to soft); scored by a head in last two of those handicaps but his form now entitles him to a crack at a good Group race such as this; he's not crying out for 2m but his dam managed to win over this far; fascinating candidate for the trainer who won this three times with Trueshan.

Spotlight: Has flourished in this much more substantial campaign, including with a win at Royal Ascot (1m4f, good to firm) and he gave the winner 5lb when a very close third of 22 to Daiquiri Bay in the Ebor at York (1m6f, good to soft); in the latter he led 2f out and boxed on well, so 2m is not out of the question and he's well worth this third go at a Group race (Group 3 second on penultimate start); each-way chance.

Spotlight: Career-best form when chasing home top stayer Scandinavia in Irish St Leger at the Curragh (1m6f, good) last month; last two runnings of the Group 1 Cadran at Longchamp (2m4f) saw him finish third to Caballo De Mar, making most two weeks ago; firmly in the mix on first visit to Ascot.

Spotlight: Respected on last season's 1m4f/1m6f form but very little went to plan this term until his straightforward task in a 1m6f conditions stakes five weeks ago; had two attempts at 2m and can't be blamed for the first, while it did not look as if the trip was to blame on second occasion; has headgear first time and might yet reveal himself as a stayer but he has a bit to prove.

Spotlight: Got up close home in slowly run Group 3 at York (1m6f, good to firm) in July; first venture beyond that when creditable third of eight in Group 2 at York (2m, good to soft) in August, but he needs a good deal better than that.

Spotlight: Disappointing favourite on rain-softened ground in the Oaks (before fifth in the Irish version) but has since fared much better on good/good to firm and last two starts have safely established her stamina at about 1m6f; just under 7l behind Highwayman in the St Leger at Doncaster on first occasion, and it's a bit hard to envisage her overturning that deficit, even though close third in Longchamp Group 1 two weeks ago was better form.

Spotlight: High-class front-running stayer in his prime, with career highlight his Group 1 Goodwood Cup success in 2023; fifth in this race in 2022; nearly two years off, however, before his fifth at York in August and he tailed off in Amiloc's conditions event five weeks ago.