Spotlight: Dam is Ascot Gold Cup winner Estimate; inconsistent for Sir Michael Stoute last term, best efforts when second on good to firm in June and drubbing his opponents over 1m6f on AW in August; tailed off in the Melrose at York (6-1) final 3yo outing but made a bright start for new yard when beaten on the nod at Leopardstown (1m4f) last month; needs improvement but there is a great deal to suggest he arrives here with major potential as a stayer.

Spotlight: One of the top juvenile hurdlers last season and he justified warm favouritism when returned to the Flat in 15-runner Chester Cup (2m2f, good) over five weeks ago, never far away before strength of stamina took him to the front inside the final 1f; below-form outsider last April/June on his only two starts on good to firm (one at this meeting); up 8lb since Chester but may well be capable of another advance if the ground is okay.

Spotlight: Trained last year by Ralph Beckett, favourite when below form in the 1m1f Cambridgeshire on final outing (also below form on sole run on good to firm); made his stable/hurdles debut in March, in the Triumph at Cheltenham no less, but belied odds of 100-1 to win by a neck; second at Punchestown in May (despite racing freely) confirmed his high standing in that sphere, so he's a high-profile candidate for this return to Flat, over a very new Flat trip but his trainer usually picks the right ones for these races.

Spotlight: Had a mark of just 46 this time two years ago and is now 7-13 in handicaps; went mighty close in last year's Cesarewitch at Newmarket (2m2f, soft) and emerged strongest to score by a neck from Mr Hampstead at Goodwood (2m, good) last month; first win was on good to firm in 2023, unraced on it since; up another 4lb but needs plenty of respect assuming the ground is suitable.

Spotlight: His three visits to Britain from Ireland last year provided a rich haul with wins in the Chester Plate (2m2f, good to firm), Northumberland Vase at Newcastle (2m, AW) and Cesarewitch at Newmarket (2m2f, soft); the latter was by a nose from Manxman and they raced on opposite sides of the track, with this one in charge on the near side from 2f out; 6lb higher today but has a run under his belt and may well be ready to take another big prize.

Spotlight: Well beaten at 80-1 in Group 2 Queen's Vase here in 2023; staying-on fourth over hurdles/fences at last two Cheltenham Festivals, in 2m4f handicap this March; last month's Flat run was over just 1m2f and the big pointer to his chance is that he passed stacks of rivals to take fourth in last September's Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh (nearly 2m1f, good); the widest draw here will probably demand an even bigger effort from off the pace, and cheekpieces (worn in two good jumps runs) are now worn for first time on Flat.

Spotlight: Tailed off last June in the Derby and 1m4f Group 2 at this meeting; gelded and reappeared this season with two improved performances in 2m handicaps on good ground at Goodwood, winning the first in emphatic style and collared close home by Manxman on latest; up another 2lb but another bold show may well be on its way.

Spotlight: Went close in this race (good to firm) last term off 2lb lower; has since come up short with higher marks and higher grades; perhaps forgiven latest start, in the Chester Cup, and a return to form is not ruled out.

Spotlight: Has had only fives races; won a 1m2f maiden and 1m4f handicap (made all) on turf in Ireland; second favourite when upped to 2m2f for the Chester Cup (good; unraced on firmer) on latest outing but looked tricky to restrain in front, doing well to be headed only just over 1f out and hang on for fourth; up 2lb, with potential but wide draw may require a change in tactics.

Spotlight: Most starts on good ground, unraced on firmer; lightly raced 5yo who had 282 days off before emerging from off the pace to win narrowly at Navan (1m6f) in April; below-form favourite behind Ascending at Cork (1m4f) six weeks ago but going beyond 1m6f for the first time is interesting and he holds possibilities if that latest run is forgiven.

Spotlight: Won 2m5f Queen Alexandra here in 2023 (third in it last year, again on good to firm) and 2m Curragh Group 3 last November; also effective in top, big-field handicaps but put up a very lacklustre display in the Chester Cup on latest outing, admittedly from a wide draw; competitive if back on song with tongue tied first time.

Spotlight: Sole attempt on good to firm was debut; fairly useful hurdler who has reverted to the Flat with two seconds and two wins; the wins came in handicaps at Dundalk (2m, AW; easily at 2-5) and Cork (1m4f, good; hard fought) and he looks a live prospect for this race despite his speedy pedigree.

Spotlight: Fairly useful hurdler; 1-3 on the Flat in France early in 2023 and returned to this sphere with a front-running win in six-runner handicap at Newmarket (1m6f, good to firm) one month ago, going clear about 4f out and staying clear; up 7lb and into a much stronger race but he could have plenty more to offer.

Spotlight: Second, first and third in the last three Chester Cups and not far away in this race two years ago; back up 3lb since latest Chester Cup, however, and he didn't quite reproduce the Chester form in either the 2023 or 2024 campaigns.

Spotlight: Unraced on firmer than good; fairly useful hurdler (stays 2m6f) on his day in 2024, below form in two festival runs this spring; ran in three big-field Flat handicaps last autumn, back to form when winning with a strong late challenge at Naas (2m, yielding) on third occasion, so he's not entirely ruled out despite an apparently tough British mark.

Spotlight: Third in the 1m4f King Edward VII at this meeting two years ago was the pick of his five runs in Group contests; handicaps on last three outings, racing a bit freely when always-prominent fourth of ten at Newmarket (good to firm) last time on step up to 1m6f but he also stuck to his task very well to give hope for 2m+; 7lb claimer is recruited.

Spotlight: Handicap hat-trick last summer (final leg at Glorious Goodwood) and he ran well in Listed event on return; not in the best of form since, though, and latest start again failed to prove he stays 2m; headgear enlisted.

Spotlight: 4yo who has had only six races; keeping on for fourth over 1m4f at Newbury (good) on 2025 reappearance hinted he may have staying potential; that wasn't confirmed over 2m here (good to firm) later in April, in his third Group 3, but that was a slowly run race and this is his first handicap.

Spotlight: French-trained 8yo who's won six of 53 races, the latest wins from off the pace in large-field handicaps over 1m7f last May and 2m in August; those were in the mud but he was second on officially good ground on latest outing; a likely stayer and it looks like he has a highly competitive mark.

Spotlight: Has seen far more action over hurdles and fences (useful at up to 2m4f) but also won under Flat rules in a Dundalk maiden (10.5f, AW) in January and gamely from the front in a conditions event at Killarney (1m6f, good) last month; put firmly in his place at 33-1 in a 1m4f Listed race last time and the handicapper hasn't obviously taken any chances with this opening Flat mark, but going further than 1m6f should suit him.