Former winner Northern Express has to enter the reckoning, while Obelix and Rhythm Master have shaped well enough this spring to think they are on decent marks, but there's a chance the drop in grade could prove liberating for classy pair FLIGHT PLAN and Hi Royal. The former could be sharper for his reappearance at this venue three weeks ago and is preferred. [Andrew Sheret]
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Won this in 2023; only seventh last year but better than ever later in 2025 and should be sharper for his 7f course reappearance three weeks ago; has to enter the reckoning.
Creditable in-frame efforts in competitive AW handicaps at about 1m on his last two outings; yet to prove he's quite as effective on turf (0-7 as opposed to 4-12 on AW) but has the same mark on the grass.
Front-runner; no win since a Leopardstown Group 2 in September 2023 but he ran some fair races in defeat last year and should strip fitter for his reappearance fourth (Northern Express fifth) in a 7f course conditions race three weeks ago; could be well treated for this rather belated handicap debut.
Placed in the 2,000 Guineas and Irish equivalent in 2023; another smart effort when third in Group 3 Earl of Sefton at Newmarket (1m1f, good) on last year's reappearance; his form dipped badly later in 2024 but that has resulted in him dropping to a dangerous handicap mark if a reviving after a 224-day break.
As good as ever on AW when making all over 1m2f at Chelmsford in March; respectable fifth of 14 in strong Newcastle handicap (1m2f again) on Good Friday; the drop back to a 1m for the first time since his 3yo days shouldn't inconvenience but he needs to show he's as good on turf (0-6) as on AW (5-14).
Listed runner-up (1m1f, good) at three; shaped well when fourth (Kingdom Come nose ahead in third) in Lincoln Trial on Wolverhampton reappearance but looked beaten when meeting trouble in the Lincoln itself (1m, good to soft) three weeks later; probably acts on good to firm; thereabouts if back to his best.
Improver this spring; landed a wide-margin win at Southwell (7f, AW) in March and showed he can do it on turf too with a Class 2 success at Musselburgh (7f, good) three weeks ago; however, in between those wins he was well beaten when tackling 1m for the first time at Doncaster so does have to prove his effectiveness at the trip.
Showed he's still capable of useful form as an 8yo with a 7f Redcar win 12 days ago but that was a Class 4 and seventh is the best he's managed in three previous attempts in this race.
Close third of 14 at Ayr (1m, good to firm) off 2lb higher last autumn; soft ground provides an excuse for below-par runs on his final outings last year and he might have needed last month's Redcar reappearance after wind surgery; no shock were he to go well.
It's been a long time since his last win but his runner-up efforts here (7f, good; had to wait for gap) and Redcar (1m, good to firm; bumped into a Boughey improver) on his last two outings have been encouraging; runs off unaltered mark so he's another who could be in the mix, for all that the outside stall isn't ideal.
Having dropped in the weights he gained his first handicap success in a competitive heat at Haydock (1m, good) last autumn; well held off this mark on his final 4yo start but caught the eye (met trouble) when a never-nearer fourth on his 7f course reappearance, suggesting he could still be feasibly treated; interesting back at 1m.
Career highlight when winning this on his 2022 reappearance; gained career wins 15 and 16 in small fields in the second half of last season but probably asking a bit much for him to land a race as competitive as this on first start as an 11yo.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3,4
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
