Tuco Salamanca is sure to be popular after his luckless run at Newcastle on Good Friday and he is unexposed as a sprinter. He's far from the only interesting contender in here though and Corolla Point (second choice), Vocal Legend and KINIRO also make plenty of appeal. The selection has a bit of ground to make up on Vocal Legend on their latest Lingfield run but he still looks to have an air of unfinished business about him and this stiff test at the trip could be the catalyst for an improved showing.[Paul Smith]
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Two solid efforts in AW handicaps this year, midfield at Kempton before finishing best of the rest behind an emphatic winner at Southwell 12 days ago; needs a bit more to defy top weight in this field but he did shape well on fast turf as a 2yo.
Overcame his inexperience to win a 5f novice at Yarmouth last October (soft ground); it was almost certainly a hot Doncaster novice in which he finished fourth on his reappearance two weeks ago (6f, good to firm) and his opening mark looks manageable; yard can do little wrong and he's a leading contender.
Made a promising debut at Goodwood last June before easily landing the odds at Haydock one month later (6f, good); no progress afterwards but still ran to a useful level; others perhaps better treated in today's field.
Improved with each of his 2yo starts, getting off the mark in a 6f nursery at Kempton when last seen in October (hooded for the first time but still over raced); a 6lb rise looks quite stiff though and he'll need to have done well for a gelding operation over the winter; hood absent this time.
Dead-heated in a 6f Chelmsford maiden on his seasonal return (gelded after 2yo campaign); latest Newbury fourth (7f, good) doesn't suggest he's ahead of his mark though and he'll need to be in this field; returning to 6f and the fitting of headgear could help.
Raced only on AW to date, winning a 6f maiden at Lingfield in January and running two solid races in handicaps since (behind Vocal Legend latest); improvement is needed to defy this mark but a more thorough test at the trip should suit and the stable are having a hot spell; hasn't hit his ceiling yet.
The winner of his first three starts this year, all over further, and showed there was still some mileage in his handicap mark when an unlucky fourth at Newcastle on Good Friday (6f), seeing no daylight and powering home when a gap finally appeared; unexposed as a sprinter but fast turf will be a new experience.
Rare winning newcomer for the yard at Salisbury last summer (6f, good to firm); disappointed in a Kempton nursery when last seen in December, after which he was gelded; improvement required.
Two 6f wins on AW this year; below par at Lingfield on Good Friday (behind Vocal Legend and Kiniro) but he's better than that; this is his turf debut but his brother Coulthard handles fast ground well.
Promise for Michael O'Callaghan in Ireland as a 2yo; not so good on stable debut ten days ago (absent 199 days beforehand); could be sharper today but he'll need to be.
He made a winning debut in a 6f Windsor maiden (good to firm) last summer but there wasn't significant progress in four further 2yo starts; getting back on faster ground may help but others bring greater potential.
2-2 since dropped to 6f, notably when pouncing late in a Lingfield handicap on Good Friday (Kiniro third); 3lb rise not excessive and his stable have some useful 3yo sprinters this year; high on the list.
His best efforts as a 2yo came over 7f on ground slower than good; likely quick enough to cope with 6f but this is a warm race and he might prefer slower going.
Much improved when making all in a 6f Kempton novice in November but the form is weak and he'll need another surge of improvement to defy this opening mark in such a competitive handicap.
Showed ability here on debut last July but he hasn't built on it yet, including when pulling hard and finishing remote in a 7f Newmarket handicap three weeks ago; plenty to prove.
Runner-up in both starts this year, chasing home a well-treated opponent at Musselburgh last week (5f, good); 1lb wrong today and this is a much stronger contest.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3,4,5
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
