Solaia heads the class acts

But she has since shown excellent form against older fillies to indicate that tomorrow's stiff 12-furlong trip will be ideal.

Solaia found only high-class Ela Athena too good in the Lancashire Oaks and looked all over the winner in Doncaster's Park Hill Stakes until running out of stamina for one mile six furlongs and finished fourth.

She can gain revenge on Rada's Daughter and her seasonal return proves soft-ground ability. Value in a competitive event.

German raider Abitara should never have been 20-1 when taking a Newmarket Listed contest in July and must be backed each-way if going off at a similarly nonsensical price here.

But likely hot-pot Riyafa can be opposed having disappointed before in a Kempton handicap and facing ground less testing than her win here last month.

Irish Oaks fourth Littlepacepaddocks found taking on the colts in the St Leger beyond her and is unproven on this ground, but brother Yavana's Pace handles heavy going as well as a faster surface.

She is respected back at the scene of her narrow Shergar Cup Oaks defeat by Solaia's stable companion, Sailing. Millennium Dash may not run.

In the earlier Group Three event, the Willmott Dixon Cornwallis Stakes for juveniles, Season's Greetings can complete a successful raid for French trainer Carlos Laffon-Parais.

This same handler brought Ronda to Newmarket last year to win the Group Two Falmouth Stakes and his offering here should not be underestimated.

This filly beat the re-opposing Jack Spratt, Kachina Doll and Secret Index fair and square at her local Chantilly last time out, having caught a tartar in Prix de l'Abbaye fifth Iron Mask on her penultimate start but readily accounting for William Haggas's Racina. She can prove the surprise package against the usual Coolmore suspects.

Juniper looks the better of that Aidan O'Brien-trained pair, although he made heavy weather of a Curragh maiden after acquitting himself with great credit in third when thrown into Group Two class on his racecourse debut in the Gim-crack. King's Ballet, brother to smart sprinter Imperial Beauty, and blue-blooded Alshadiyah are respected. On paper, the opening Tom McGee Autumn Stakes should be a race to savour, packed full of prospective classic prospects. But will they line up?

The drying ground will be in Nayef's favour after this half-brother to multiple Group One hero Nashwan created a huge impression on a good-to-firm surface with his debut Newbury success.

He beat the more experienced Tamburlaine on that occasion, who since annihilated a New-market maiden field.

The danger to Nayef comes from Sir Michael Stoute's formidable stable - Golan gave a polished display on his Chepstow debut, also gaining crucial experience of softish ground. King Carew is another to consider.

The Doubleprint Stakes should be Delegate's for the taking on his Doncaster second to Compton Banker but, despite numerous promising placed efforts, he has only once got his head in front in his entire career and that was five years ago.

Sheer Viking is another unreliable soul, with two wins back in his two-year-old days from 24 starts.

Top-weight Ellens Lad is in the form of his life and can confirm superiority on these revised terms with Dancing Mystery. But others appeal at far more rewarding prices, notably Smokin Beau who has run well in defeat on his last two starts. He handles softish ground whereas Kathology looks better on faster. Night Flight is a danger.

Ascot selections: 1.30, Nayef; 2.00,

Season's Greetings; 2.30, Solaia; 3.00, Smokin Beau.