1. Gregory (Total: 487.0): Coming from a prolific family, Gregory has shown a strong performance with a nice win at Haydock (1m3f, good). This colt is a half-brother to last year’s winner Lionel and has been a strong contender in the market. He’s open to a great deal of improvement, and his significant performance at Haydock certainly paints a promising picture.
2. Klondike (Total: 462.6): This 600,000gns yearling managed to pull a win at Newbury despite being relatively inexperienced. He’s a half-brother to Queen’s Vase winner Kemari, which could indicate a strong lineage of performance. His trainer’s patient approach suggests a belief in Klondike’s ability to significantly improve upon his initial effort.
3. Goldenstatewarrior (Total: 424.4): Goldenstatewarrior narrowly missed a win at Gowran, and then fell short in the Leopardstown Derby Trial. Despite this, there’s a high probability that he is up to Listed level at the very least, and remains unexposed under these conditions. He showed promise during his debut and could surprise us in the future.
4. Batemans Bay (Total: 397.6): Batemans Bay justified his favouritism at Haydock before coming fourth in a Group 3 race at Newmarket. Gelded in the spring, he is predicted to be ready for this stiffer test of stamina, in line with his pedigree. He showed strength in the later stages of his previous races which could bode well for this longer distance.
5. Tempered Soul (Total: 378.5): Tempered Soul made a positive impression when he won at Chelmsford. However, he will need to significantly improve on this performance if he is to be a serious contender against the higher-rated horses. His entry into the King Edward VII is a positive indication, however.
6. Galactic Jack (Total: 367.9): Despite winning his maiden here over 1m2f, Galactic Jack has since found his limitations exposed at Pattern level. The addition of a first-time tongue-tie might help, but based on his previous performances, he isn’t easily recommended.
7. Hadrianus (Total: 365.4): Hadrianus showed promise as a strong stayer in a Listed race at Epsom, and despite finding conditions challenging in the Chester Vase, he remains a colt with potential. However, he will need to rebound from his previous performance to live up to expectations.

In conclusion, based on total ratings, Gregory and Klondike stand out as the top contenders. Gregory’s winning performance at Haydock and strong lineage make him a strong choice, while Klondike’s patient training and notable pedigree also speak to his potential. Outside the ratings, Batemans Bay and Goldenstatewarrior could be dark horses in the race, having shown promise in their previous performances. It’s important to remember that horse racing can be unpredictable, and the outcome will also depend on the conditions on the day, the jockeys, and the horses’ form and health.