There is probably more to come from the unexposed C&D novice winner Salamanca and the market should be revealing on his reappearance, while Penzance can never be left out of calculations around here, especially down in grade. However, METALLO also remains open to improvement after just eight starts and has been shaping as though ready to strike in his recent performances.[David Bellingham]
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Off the mark when winning an uncompetitive five-runner novice over C&D in October; sent off joint-favourite (alongside Penzance) for his handicap debut here the following month and was still in front when the race was voided; not seen since then but is proven fresh and the market should be informative.
All four wins over 1m2f on the AW including two here; may have needed the run after 84 days off at Lingfield (1m2f, Polytrack) 13 days ago, but still ran well to finish fourth of 12; just 1lb above his last winning mark and was successful the last time he raced at Class 3 level; big chance.
Mark continues to fall and he showed that the abilty was still there when third of seven behind King's Code at Wolverhampton (9.5f, Tapeta) in December, but he remains without a win since the start of 2021; others are more persuasive.
Won twice at Wolverhampton (9.5f, Tapeta) late last year, making it 4-10 at that track; has won on Polytrack (at Kempton), but he failed to beat a rival at Lingfield (1m2f, Polytrack) 13 days ago (Penzance fourth) and will need the switch to blinkers from a visor to have a positive effect.
Handy sort whose record over C&D reads 3111141; back off his last winning mark, but he has failed to fire at all in three starts since reappearing on the AW in December; needs the return here to galvanise him.
Rnning well in defeat since needing his return from 15 months off in November, chasing home a nice sort at Newcastle (1m2f, Tapeta) in January and looking unlucky not to go closer when third of ten at Wolverhampton (9.5f, Tapeta) last month (three of these behind); still lightly raced for a 4yo and may have an even bigger performance in him.
Both AW wins on the Kempton Polytrack (1m/1m3f), but only fifth of 14 off this mark there (1m3f) in November; returns from four months off having been gelded and will need to hit the ground running; stable also runs Sari Dubai.
All 12 runs for Doug Watson at Meydan, split equally between grass and dirt, winning twice on grass (1m/9.5f); makes his stable debut (same owner) after 13 months off and the market should guide.
Twice well held at Newcastle (1m2f, Tapeta) since winning from 1lb lower over C&D (well behind Metallo on the first occasion); needs to bounce back in the first-time cheekpieces.
Promising in first two starts on Polytrack last winter, including when chasing home Notable Speech at Kempton (1m) in January, but has only made the track twice since and not matched that form (gelded before latest start); longer trip should be within range on handicap debut, but he needs a resurgence.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
