They don't have the best form claims but the lightly raced Frankel 4yos FRENCH MASTER and El Cordobes possess the potential to emerge on top. The Gosden-trained selection is the least experienced and found notable improvement to win his two 1m4f novice events last season, so he could make the greatest progress, but El Cordobes is highly respected for his steps forward at Meydan this year. Insanity is third on the list and other reasonable cases can be made.[Richard Austen]
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Won AW novice last January, three months before he was put firmly in his place in 1m1f Newmarket Listed race; not seen again until second in two Meydan handicaps (1m2f/1m4f) on turf early this year, showing improved form in both; after just five races, it's very hard to rule out further improvement.
2024 Flat form for previous yard does not suggest this is a great mark and he failed to live up to early expectations in juvenile hurdles for current stable; this is still a much more realistic task, however, than 1m1f Group 3 here on return to Flat 18 days ago and he is unexposed at 1m4f.
Disappointing on debut (1m2f, good to soft) last June, but he then scored in 1m4f novice events at Doncaster (good) in July and Kempton (AW; by 6l at 8-13) in October; makes his handicap debut and he needs improvement but he could be a very useful prospect.
Two wins and a close second from his first three races last term, all at about 1m4f on good, before disappointing at the York Ebor meeting and in the November Handicap at Doncaster; that earlier promise cannot be forgotten.
Best form came over about 1m4f on turf last summer, with two wins (York and Chepstow) and three close seconds, latest at York Ebor meeting (1lb higher today) when he once again finished with gusto; he's not sparked in the same way in his three races since (1m5f, 1m3f and 1m6f), particularly not in his two this term, but would be bang there if returning to his 1m4f best; same connections won this race two years ago.
His last win was in May 2023, last season was disappointing on the whole and he was well beaten on 2025 reappearance; that suggests he's not the percentage call, but he is well down the weights and it's possible to argue that this step back down to 1m4f will suit; he's also hooded for the first time.
No win in 2024 but second off a reduced mark on return last month and scored off it at Ripon (1m4f, good) by a head last Saturday; back up 3lb (peak mark was another 4lb higher) but best 2024 form still reads well.
Resurgent last autumn, mostly on AW but also a close second here on good to firm; showed on last two outings (claimer ridden on Wolverhampton AW) that she stays 1m4f and she may indeed have more to offer at the trip; this race is a higher grade, though, and she needs to improve her first-time-out record.
1/4 Odds Place 1,2
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
