Anmaat: Progressed to win the Group 3 Prix Dollar at four, the Group 1 Prix d’Ispahan at five and last year’s British Champions Stakes in a messy race at 40/1. Found a good turn of foot there and should not be underestimated here.

Continuous: Disappointing with one win in nine runs since he won the St Leger and his Yorkshire Cup run offers little encouragement.

Crypto Force: Third in this last year but this is a deeper renewal and looks well held on the balance of his form.

Deepone: Stable in terrific form but she is pitched in the deep end here. A little disappointing last year when lightly raced and ended winning the Group 2 Beresford Stakes. Her fourth on return in the Ballysax Stakes was disappointing again.

Ghostwriter: Kept top company last season, finishing fourth in the 2000 Guineas, third to City Of Troy in the Eclipse and fifth in the Irish Champions Stakes. Beaten only two lengths there, he was three-quarters of a length behind Los Angeles. Could be the value here coming off a fourth in the Dubai Turf.

Los Angeles: Epsom Derby third and Irish Derby victor went on to win the Great Voltigeur, run well in the Irish Champions Stakes and finish third in the Arc. Should come on from his reappearance when he beat White Birch a neck and sets a high standard. Ryan Moore can combat the shorter than ideal trip.

Royal Rhyme: Consistent if found wanting at top level. His best run was a third in a hard to decipher Champions Stakes. His Prix Ganay third to Sosie last month didn’t indicate that he could be a Group 1 winner.

White Birch: His defeat of Auguste Rodin in this race put him into the Group 1 league. Los Angeles held him by a neck in the Mooresbridge on return, which came after an absence of 344 days, so improvement expected.

Kalpana: Late-developing filly made a winning debut last January, progressing to win five of her eight runs and land the Group 1 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes. The quality of that race is debatable however and she needs to step up again against the colts.

Conclusion

Los Angeles sets a high standard. Overshadowed by his Derby-winning stable companion last season, he showed consistency throughout last season and even raced a bit lazily at times. Ryan Moore can strike early and hold off the challengers. White Birch should come on from his reappearance off a long absence but the O’Brien colt may have too many guns for him again. Anmaat looks too big ante-post and can take the minor placing.