2.45 Tattersalls Gold Cup (Group 1) 1m 2f 110yds

Bay Bridge: Showed a tremendous attitude to win last year’s Champion Stakes at Ascot, his first success at the highest level. Solid enough showing on reappearance when third in the Prix Ganay, beaten a length and a half while finishing the same margin in front of fourth-placed Vadeni. Bound to be fighting out the finish if on his ‘A’ game.

Layfayette: Running creditably enough in defeat so far this season, but those races were not the class of this assignment. Officially rated 15lb inferior to Vadeni and 13lb inferior to Bay Bridge/Luxembourg.

Luxembourg: Came out on top in a thrilling Irish Champion Stakes last September, defying an interrupted season through a setback. Said to have pulled a muscle when disappointing in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and a fair deal of improvement expected from his underwhelming comeback fifth in the Mooresbridge Stakes earlier this month. Lack of pace in that race didn’t help his cause but could be a similar scenario here. An end-to-end gallop, with two stablemates leading the way, seemed to suit him ideally for his biggest win at Leopardstown.

Piz Badile: Respectable comeback when third in the Mooresbridge Stakes on ground that would have been slower than ideal and should relish conditions this weekend. Last season’s Ballysax Stakes winner was also second to Westover here in the Irish Derby. Needs to prove he’s capable of winning in Group 1 company but should be suited by this test and could show up well.

Vadeni: Top-class middle-distance performer from France was supplemented into this race at a cost of €45,000 on Tuesday. Excellent form last season, winning the French Derby and Eclipse before finishing third to Luxembourg in the Irish Champion Stakes (didn’t have entirely smooth passage) and second in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on heavy ground that would have stretched his stamina. Churchill four-year-old was beaten on his comeback in a Group 3 last term so fourth-placed effort in the Prix Ganay on his reappearance shouldn’t be taken too literally. Highest-rated runner in the line-up has right tools for this test.

Trevaunance: Useful four-year-old filly who recorded back-to-back Group 3 and Group 2 wins at Deauville last August. No fireworks on comeback in the Mooresbridge Stakes but entitled to need run and ground probably softer than ideal. Rated 109 so a fair deal to find.

Conclusion:

A cracking clash involving three Group 1 winners. Given there aren’t any out-and-out front runners who are likely to make this a stamina test, Luxembourg could be disadvantaged and it may play into the hands of Vadeni, whose turn of foot was the deciding factor in last year’s Eclipse win at Sandown. Bay Bridge should give the French raider most to think about.