Verdict

There’s an international feel to this Listed contest with Mike De Kock running Royal Hunt Cup fifth David Livingston and Alain De Royer-Dupre sending Mandour over from France. The latter was only beaten a length-and-a-half in a Group 1 at Longchamp in May so warrants plenty of respect. Sri Putra usually competes at the highest level and will have needed his run at Epsom while Black Spirit won a Group 3 at Newbury last year. Van Der Neer may prove the pick of the three-year-olds but we’ll take a gamble that AFSARE is on his best behaviour for new pilot James Doyle. Luca Cumani’s enigmatic gelding won this last year and would take all the beating again if reproducing his brave run in the Arlington Million subsequently.

Formwatch

Mandour (USA) 6-1 (9-2) 3rd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Maxios (9-2) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 1f 3yo Grp 1 (1) sft in May.

Afsare 25-1 (9-0) Held up in 5th on inside, pushed along over 2f out, soon not quicken, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 11, 9l behind Al Kazeem (9-0) at Royal Ascot 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.

Excess Knowledge 8-1 (8-12) Keen close up, ridden 3f out, edged left entering final 2f, weakened approaching final furlong, 7th of 8, 12l behind Steeler (8-12) at Newmarket 1m 2yo Grp 2 (1) gd in Sep.

David Livingston (IRE) 12-1 (9-2) Switched to race near side, held up in mid-division, headway 2f out, chased group leaders over 1f out, led group final 100 yards, not pace of leaders far side, 5th of 28, 2l behind Belgian Bill (8-11) at Royal Ascot 1m hcp (2) gf in Jun.

Van Der Neer 14-1 (9-0) Always prominent, every chance over 2f out, led inside final furlong, headed and no extra close home, 3rd of 12, 1l behind Remote (9-0) at Royal Ascot 1m 2f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gf in Jun.

Dick Doughtywylie 8-1 (9-1) Towards rear, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 14th of 15, 12l behind Forgotten Voice (9-2) at Royal Ascot 1m 2f listed hcp 0-110 (1) gf in Jun.

Mirsaale 50-1 (9-0) Pulled hard, held up in mid-division, headway to get in behind leaders and short of room 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 9th of 12, 7l behind Ruler Of The World (9-0) at Epsom Downs 1m 4f 3yo Grp 1 (1) gd in Jun.

Black Spirit (USA) 13-2 (9-8) Mid-division, ridden in 8th 2f out, no impression, 8th of 12, 7l behind Declaration Of War (9-3) at Dundalk 1m 3f Group 3 stks (3yo+) (1) pol in Oct.

Sri Putra 11-2 (9-5) Always in rear, last of 7, 16l behind Gregorian (9-5) at Epsom Downs 1m Grp 3 (1) gs in May.

World Domination (USA) 11-2 (8-12) Held up in 5th, ridden on outside 2f out, soon weakened, 6th of 7, 9l behind Retrieve (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 2f cnd stks (4yo+) (3) pol in May ’12.

Mendip (USA) 20-1 (9-0) 11th of 12, 19l behind Hunter’s Light (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 2f fll stks Grp 1 (1) in Mar.