Andrew Balding won five races last Saturday, including taking most of the plaudits at Newbury, and he provides the headline contender in this race with Wild Waves, who was last seen when running with credit in the St Leger. He's the second choice and the trainer also has an interesting apparent second string in Lieber Power, who's trying a new trip, but Charlie Johnston has three options and the vote goes to his ALIGN THE STARS. The wheels fell off when tried in a Group 2 and Group 1 on his final two starts last term but the selection made a bright reappearance ten days ago and won two valuable 1m6f handicaps last season.[Richard Austen]
Watch Live UK & Irish Racing
Simply place a bet of £5 or more on
any UK or Irish race to watch the action live!
Won a handicap first time out in 2023 and 2024; mostly solid efforts in defeat in Listed and Group 3 races later last year over about 1m4f; probably needs a career best and the latest of his three attempts (well beaten in them all) over this far was in July 2023.
Peak Flat efforts on good to soft and his latest win in this sphere was this race in 2023 off 5lb lower; off 318 days before a very mixed Flat campaign last year but he had two wins and two seconds from his four runs over hurdles this winter; off two months but needs a second look.
8yo who was better than ever on Flat and over hurdles last year, including when second in the Ebor at York and winning at Ayr next time (4lb higher today); off 133 days before a hot race over hurdles (16-1) last Saturday, sprawling badly at the fourth flight; probably needs to resume improvement.
Completed a handicap hat-trick last summer, the final leg coming from the front over 1m6f at Glorious Goodwood (good to firm); gelded in December and returned better than ever when close third of four in Listed race at Nottingham (1m6f, good) ten days ago; a bold show looks on its way.
Hooded on last five starts; fourth of 16 in the Melrose Handicap at York (1m6f, good to firm) on penultimate start, meeting interference but staying on well from off the pace, and he improved on that form when 7l sixth of seven at 40-1 in the St Leger at Doncaster on final outing; gelded since; up another 5lb but seriously progressive.
Can race freely and has been hooded except on last three outings last term, running well in those only on penultimate start (wore today's cheekpieces on last four); reliable sort otherwise over 1m4f-1m6f, ideally suited by softer than good, and he has a competitive mark; tongue-tie (worn twice in 2023) returns; stable is among the winners.
Useful on his day at up to 1m6f for the Gosdens; sold for 7,000gns in October and showed he retains plenty of ability on first two runs for new yard this winter, but latest start (February) was less positive; 6lb below his peak mark and a 5lb claimer is recruited.
Thrown in judged on his best form for Sir Michael Stoute but that was over 1m4f in 2020 when usually visored; absent for 1373 days (joined current yard for 27,000gns one year ago) and no headgear when fading right out of it at 40-1 in 1m2f handicap at Doncaster three weeks ago; now tries cheekpieces.
Best form came over about 1m4f on turf last summer, with two wins (York and Chepstow) and three close seconds, the latest at York Ebor meeting (2lb higher today) when he once again finished with gusto; 1m5f in the mud did not work out on final start and he was never dangerous in a warm AW race three weeks ago, but this trip is interesting.
Usually front-runner but some slow starts have been interfering with that; fifth in this race in 2023 and his first-time-out record leaves something to be desired; second in last year's Chester Cup in May (2lb lower today) and best known for his exploits at that track, where July 2023 saw his last win; perhaps best watched this time.
Flowered last term, most notably for a stylish 1m4f handicap win at Newbury (soft) in September; not disgraced in 1m6f/1m2f Listed races afterwards; no shock if she still has more to offer.
Usually front-runner; last season's two wins (including in April first time out) came in small fields and although he was in the form of his life over 1m3f-1m6f in the autumn, better still will be required to win this race.
Last August (1m2f) saw his first win in nearly five years and he scored again two starts later in the Mallard at Doncaster (14.5f); ran well first time out in the last two seasons and he could be thereabouts again.
Last season was disappointing on the whole and his last win was in May 2023; that suggests he's not the percentage call, but he's too well handicapped to be totally dismissed.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3,4
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
