Spotlight: Sometimes hangs under pressure but he's a resolute galloper who races prominently and can make the running if necessary; superbly reliable since last May and although he's not yet won a Group 1, he's been second in three of them, including last year's St Leger and last month's Gold Cup at Royal Ascot; another leading role looks assured.

Spotlight: Plenty went wrong for him racing wide in the 1m6f Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot but he rallied strongly for a close fifth; built on that with first-time cheekpieces in five-runner Group 3 at Newmarket (1m5f, again good to firm) 19 days ago, going on over 3f out and galloping nearly 9l clear, which suggests he can be a leading candidate for this big 2m prize.

Spotlight: Overcame trouble in running to snatch a handicap here (1m6f, good) in May; blinkered first time when continuing his relentless rise in a handicap at Royal Ascot (1m6f, good to firm), passing 11 of his 15 rivals in the last 2f for a clearcut success; style of his wins offers clear scope for better still over 2m and, although further improvement is needed, it will be no shock if this lightly raced 4yo can mix it at this level today or very soon.

Spotlight: Headgear and Rab Havlin all starts; not straightforward but took well to the visor last season and nearly always gives his running; one exception was last month's Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, in which he was ridden much closer to the pace than usual; likely to bounce back from that and taking second in this race last year, as well as winning the 2m2f Doncaster Cup in good style, helps to show he's well capable of finishing on the premises.

Spotlight: Probably okay on any going; runner-up in last season's Irish Derby and third in the St Leger; those are the clear highlights in form terms but his always-prominent fourth of 12 in Group 2 Hardwicke at Royal Ascot last month in first-time blinkers was much more like it again; this is a new trip but he's stuck to his task well on those best efforts over 1m4f/14.5f.

Spotlight: Made a big splash with three wins from four starts last term, notably with a 1m4f Listed success on AW; cheekpieces have gone on this season, with two solid seconds either side of a modest show in Bahrain; going down by a neck in Listed race here last time was easily his best turf form, over 1m4f on soft, so today's trip and likely ground pose major questions, but his form is not far behind that of today's principals.

Spotlight: Given his first crack at 2m in the Dubai Gold Cup this April when he showed far too much toe for his rivals in a steadily run race; heavy defeat in France in May next time but, held up in rear with a hood added, he then emerged in a well-beaten third in the 2m4f Gold Cup at Royal Ascot; while that was well short of his best form and he finished 7l behind Illinois, this shorter trip boosts his chance of narrowing the gap.

Spotlight: Needs good ground or softer; grand stayer who has been first, third and fourth on his three appearances in the Goodwood Cup; not disgraced on return in France this May and he got seriously involved every time last season after his first run, but he's a 9yo now and it would be rolling back the years to see him top of the pile today.