Harswell Ruby is ahead of the handicapper after her improved second at Beverley last week but the hat-trick seeking Private Island and ANTIQUITY appeal more. The former looks a typical slow burner from her yard and she's greatly respected despite a hefty rise for her hard-fought win at Yamouth but Antiquity is preferred. His short-head defeat of Zarathos at Nottingham looked to be achieved with a bit more authority than that margin would suggest and he looks the type to keep his nose in front of the handicapper in the short term.[Paul Smith]
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Third behind a useful sort on debut (1m, AW) in January; non stayer over 1m3f and 1m2f since; may do better now handicapping on turf back down in distance.
Improving with experience, missing out by a short head at Nottingham on his turf debut 16 days ago (1lb better off with reopposing winner Antiquity); could yet rate higher.
Probably best to ignore his third 2yo run (eased after rider felt him take a false step) and he's shown promise in his three other starts; gelded after finishing fourth on last month's handicap debut; new blinkers replace cheekpieces.
No immediate improvement for the switch to handicaps at Southwell 17 days ago (7f; first run for 192 days and after a gelding operation); drops in class today and still has time to do better; first run at 1m.
Enhanced his record in 1m handicaps to 12211 when gamely holding off Zarathos at Nottingham 16 days ago (8.5f, good); unlikely he's reached his ceiling just yet and he's high on the list.
2-2 since moving into handicaps, following her narrow 7f win at Lingfield (AW) with a more comfortable success at Yarmouth three weeks ago (1m, good); 6lb rise not generous on the face of it but she still looks to be learning her craft and foolish to discount significant further improvement.
One promising 2yo effort (7.5f, good); well beaten on her seasonal/handicap debut here 26 days ago (1m2f, good; 33-1); others bring more pressing claims.
Sent off favourite for his nursery debut at Chester (7f, good to soft) in September and showed a little improvement, finishing third of ten having made the running; improvement required upped to 1m but it's not out of the question.
Finished third in his final two starts for Craig Lidster (both 7f); tried in cheekpieces on his stable debut/reappearance at Beverley last week and wasn't at the same level; headgear off now but improvement is a must.
Runner-up twice since handicapping, notably when beaten a short-head at Beverley (7.5f, good) last week; the first two home were well clear on that occasion (Seed Investor a never-dangerous fourth) and she's due to be 2lb higher from the weekend; commands plenty of respect.
Absent since a heavy defeat on soft ground at Redcar six months ago; first two runs weren't without promise but he's not obviously well treated for his handicap debut.
