Boosted by the 2016 and 2017 triumphs of high rankers and subsequent Group 1 performers So Mi Dar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}), respectively, this event has been elevated to listed status for the first time and attracts an enticing cast for the latest incarnation, which offers a free ticket to the main event in June. The John Gosden and Frankie Dettori bromance has dominated recently with Christophermarlowe (Tapit) initiating the hat-trick in 2015, and the duo team up again with Khalid Abdullah's recent Kempton conditions winner Crossed Baton (GB) (Dansili {GB}) seeking a third-straight success having closed last term with victory in a Sandown novice event in September.
“Crossed Baton is in good form at home, he has come out of his win at Kempton in good shape and has had a straightforward time of things since that run,” revealed racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe. “It was a nice performance last time out and this is another big step up for him. This is a nice race for him to go for and it fits in well in the calendar. He has been progressive in all three of his starts and his form has worked out strongly so we'll see how he gets on.”
Aidan O'Brien, who has yet to join the contest's honour roll, saddles two with Ryan Moore taking the mount aboard Leopardstown maiden winner James Cook (Ire) (Galileo (Ire), a full-brother to G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, GI Breeders' Cup Turf and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), and Seamus Heffernan booked for Tipperary maiden scorer Zabriskie (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who returns off a last-of-eight finish in October's G3 Autumn S. at Newmarket, undergoing a wind operation since that latest outing. Mark Johnston's Permian (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) forced Cracksman to pull out all the stops in last year's edition and he is represented by Dee Ex Bee (GB) (Farhh {GB}), who follows the same route as that ill-fated former stablemate and goes postward off a placed effort in October's Listed Zetland S. at Newmarket.
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