Bathara holds a clear advantage over this field on form figures, sitting 14 lb clear of the next-rated rival Usyk and even further ahead of the chasing pack, and over this stamina-testing trip of twenty furlongs on good ground at Worcester the selection looks well placed to translate that superiority into victory. Usyk is the most credible threat in the field and deserves respect, while Ikigai Star and American Empire both carry identical ratings and cannot be dismissed entirely, though the gap they must bridge is substantial. Bathara is the selection.