Arod won this race back in 2015 and looked to have been laid out for this for David Simcock before his withdrawal. The seven-year-old came back to form last time out in a Listed contest and would have fancied his chances, but the fact that he is a non-runner could be significant as it will leave Loves Dreams with an uncontested lead and he will dictate the pace.
We saw that was quite a useful advantage on Friday and the Mark Johnston/Silvestre De Sousa combination over this course is often so potent. But I am not convinced Love Dreams will be strong enough to repel the late challengers in this race despite him deserving a crack at this level.
The jockey booking of Frankie Dettori could be significant on Gabrial, who finished second in this last season and he can go well.
But Gabrial could be vulnerable to a younger horse on the upgrade and nobody fits that profile better than the progressive CENTURY DREAM who deserves to have another crack at Group-level having finished down-the-field in a Group 2 at Longchamp on his season opener.
He stripped much fitter for the run when winning a Listed race at Ascot on soft ground, beating the former John Gosden trained Crazy Horse into a neck second. Accidental Agent finished back in third on that occasion and has since run well enough in the Group 1 Lockinge to give that form a solid look.
I was tempted by an each-way bet on Crazy Horse who could be able to follow-up that recent performance, but with the field dropping to seven runners it does alter the complexion of things and I think a win bet on Century Dream is the way-to-go.
Admittedly, 7/2 is short enough, but I think its a fair price for an uncomplicated colt who should handle the undulations of this track.
1.5pts win Century Dream @7/2, 15:10 Saturday, Epsom (Matchbook)