Spotlight: Won at Wolverhampton (9.4f, AW) last month for Jack Morland and, following a 22,000gns sale, he was back with his former yard when following up in 15-runner race at Ascot (upped to 1m4f, good to firm; always close up) four weeks ago; back up another 7lb but his peak 2024 form (a win on good to soft here) was better still; on the shortlist.

Spotlight: Floundered on testing ground in the last two November Handicaps at Doncaster but he ran well on soft at this track in October 2024; well-backed favourite off a good mark when he reappeared over C&D (good) in May and he scored smoothly, in charge from 2f out; off since and back up 7lb but has to be considered seriously.

Spotlight: Probably acts on soft; off four months (given wind surgery) before shaping as if back in good form when mid-division at Glorious Goodwood (1m2f) last month, not getting best of runs and finishing with more to give, which might also be encouraging for this first crack at 1m4f; needs a career best in first-time cheekpieces.

Spotlight: Made a winning stable debut from off the pace at Meydan (1m4f, good; acts on soft) in January but has finished no better than mid-division in his four starts since; has edged back to that last winning mark, which he also had when a close third in this race last year.

Spotlight: Won in great style at Haydock (1m4f, good; unraced on softer) last July and put up a bold show over C&D this May; having been a non-runner at Royal Ascot where the good to firm ground was deemed unsuitable, he ran on it at Newmarket seven weeks ago and disappointed; can go well if back to peak form.

Spotlight: Placed twice on soft last year; beat only one home in a top 1m2f handicap here in July but in career-best form over 1m4f (good to firm) either side of that when winning at Newmarket and second in Shergar Cup race at Ascot; needs some respect.

Spotlight: Two hurdle wins last autumn seem a pretty meagre return for his respected yard but he was unlucky when a strong-finishing third in the 2024 Chester Cup (2m2f) and much the same can be argued for his fourth in this race last year when denied a clear run at crucial stage (3lb lower today); usually makes inroads far too late, as in the Chester Cup and Northumberland Plate last two outings, and stall 1 demands some luck here, but a sound pace up front could bring him into the equation.

Spotlight: First two wins were on heavy/AW; there have been a couple of disappointments in his eight-race career but he followed two AW seconds by winning a six-runner race at Thirsk (1m4f, good) two weeks ago; up 5lb in this much more competitive race but he won in clearcut style in first-time blinkers.

Spotlight: Soundly beaten at Epsom on Oaks day on sole start on softer than good; upped to 1m4f (good to firm) for his two starts since when third of eight at Ascot (made most) and second of ten under 7lb claimer at York, both solid efforts but a bit extra will be needed to win this; non-runner at Newmarket yesterday.

Spotlight: Acts on good to soft but unraced on soft since 2024 (trained was positive about it last September); no shortage of success beforehand but cheekpieces seem to have worked very well on last two starts when winning at York (1m2f, good) and running on well again for second at Southwell (1m4f, AW); raised another 3lb but came from an unpromising position last time and still has more to give.

Spotlight: Had wind surgery in January; he's since had three runs this summer and something has clicked in a major way on last two occasions as he registered a ready win in four-runner race at Catterick and had no problem making all in a five-runner race at Newbury (again 1m4f on good to firm) six days ago; has a 5lb penalty and this is a vastly more competitive race, but never better.

Spotlight: Made all, just holding on, in a novice at Windsor (1m2f, good to soft) in June on second start and the runner-up is 2-2 since; front-running fourth in a 1m3f novice at Kempton (AW) 16 days ago was creditable; dark horse but much more is needed in this hot race for handicap debut.

Spotlight: Formerly with Aidan O'Brien and Denis Hogan; well held on the Flat in Ireland this April; had wind surgery after failing to land the odds (bled from nose) in a maiden hurdle in June on debut for Faye Bramley; no mistake at 1-2 in a similar event at Stratford in July, which is far removed from today's task, though, and a big career best is needed on this.

Spotlight: Unraced on softer than good; it looked as if 1m6f stretched him when seventh of 16 at Royal Ascot (every chance 2f out) and that he probably remained in form; however, he again came up short when favourite back over 1m4f at Ascot on latest start; something to prove after that.

Spotlight: Acts on soft; unproven beyond 1m and unraced beyond 1m1f until he tried 1m3f at Southwell (AW) 15 days ago and led 2f out until three rivals went past in the final 1f; that was a good run and his dam won at this trip but others clearly have less to prove in this hot 1m4f race.

Spotlight: No ground worries but his career highlights (1m4f/1m6f) were in 2024, including a win in this race; 6lb lower today but that's after a rather muted 2025 when still with Roger Varian and his form went badly the wrong way in three runs this January-April for new connections; tongue-tie and/or cheekpieces, both fitted for the first time, need to work the oracle.