The winners of the two divisions of a maiden at Windsor last month are among the most interesting candidates. Sea Founder's success has worked out well and he's open to further improvement, but AL SHABABI clocked the faster time and is taken to follow up. Several of the others have untapped potential, including Criminal Shore and last week's course winner Organ, but the main threat may come from Sheikh Raj who can take his form to a much higher level now handicapping.[Richard O'Brien]
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Looked unlucky (might have won with a smoother passage) at York two runs ago and he lost all chance with a slow start last time; those races were in higher grades than today's and he should go well despite top weight.
Registered a novice win at Ascot (7f, soft) last September but hasn't beaten a rival in three outings since; needs first-time cheekpieces to have a transformative effect.
Hasn't progressed since a 7f maiden win on debut last year, but he didn't fare too badly when seventh of 12 in handicap at Sandown (1m2f) five weeks ago; today's intermediate distance could suit and he's not ruled out.
Belatedly confirmed his debut promise when running away with maiden at Windsor (1m, good to firm) on reappearance, clocking a good time in the process; he was well backed that day and looks open to further improvement now tackling a handicap; might be the answer.
Novice and nursery winner at two; seemed to need his comeback race and then stuck on nicely for second over Beverley's extended 7f (good); looks ready for this return to 1m (second attempt); should be thereabouts.
Progressing steadily on AW prior to finishing seventh of 12 over C&D last week, possibly at a disadvantage in staying far side in the straight; that was a pretty good effort on his turf debut and he's not fully exposed.
Went off big prices on his first two starts but sent off favourite twice since, justifying the support in Windsor maiden (1m, good to firm) five weeks ago; the runner-up won next time and the third ran well, giving the form some substance; may not have reached his limit and has to be respected.
Ended 2yo campaign with best effort to win 7f nursery at Southwell; lack of peak fitness or stamina for 1m2f might have been why he faded into fourth of six at Ascot on reappearance; needs to bounce back and may do so.
Unbeaten in novices at Lingfield (1m) and Southwell (7f) first two starts; was favourite to complete hat-trick on turf/handicap at Ascot (1m, good to firm) but lost ground at the start and weakened at the finish; on a retrieval mission here but she's low mileage and impossible to rule out.
Has raised his game since tackling handicaps, winning at Ripon and second at Goodwood (both 1m, good); still relatively lightly raced and looks a notably solid contender.
Had nine races as a 2yo and he saved the best for last, winning a 7f nursery in the mud at Goodwood; should have no difficulty with this longer trip and he might be just as effective on good to firm as soft (second on only attempt), but he'll need another personal best after eight months off.
Looked a work in progress last term and he has taken his form to a higher level this season, rallying to justify favouritism over 7f here (good to firm) nine days ago; the style of that win strongly suggests he'll be at least as good over 1m, something backed up by his stout pedigree; key player.
150,000gns foal; shaped well when second on debut at Kempton (7f) last summer; hasn't built on that in two runs since but he may well have needed the outing at Newmarket on reappearance in a race that has worked out nicely; open to plenty of progress now handicapping in first-time tongue-tie.
