Circe is a key player off only 2lb higher than for her Newmarket win, while Change Sings has claims on this drop back in grade and Coup De Force could be a big factor if this sets up for her closing style. Knebworth and recent Wolverhampton runner-up Al Barez are also in the mix, but the most striking contender is the Crisfords' lightly raced 4yo DURHAM CASTLE (nap). He made it 2-4 with an emphatic win on his handicap debut at Goodwood in the autumn and has plenty of scope for further progress this season.[David Moon]
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220,000gns yearling; made it third time lucky when landing a Southwell maiden (6f, AW) last August and he forged clear on handicap debut at Goodwood (6f, good) two weeks later; resumes off 9lb higher but he still looks feasibly treated and is open to more progress; big player.
Looked hugely promising early in his career and while the wheels haven't quite come off, the excuses are slowly running out; continues to drop down the weights and this step back up in trip could help but others are more convincing; tongue-tie added.
Reappeared from near two-year absence to win a Navan maiden (6f, good to firm) and Naas handicap (6f, good) last summer; looks well handicapped on that last success but he ended last season with two disappointing runs; changed hands for 16,000gns since; still has low mileage but he's not been easy to predict and comes with risks attached on return; headgear removed.
His four turf wins have come on slower than good, with the latest at Newbury (6f, heavy) last October; three encouraging runs this season include a front-running third with blinkers added at Goodwood (6f, good) last time; should be in the mix again.
Effective on fast and slow ground and he's won five times, with two on turf and three on AW; well handicapped on his two wins last spring and he returned to form with a close second at Wolverhampton (6f, AW) last month; has claims if he can back that up and yard is in decent form.
Record of 5-12 in handicaps and he went close off this mark at Newbury (6f, good) on his penultimate run; didn't quite hit the same level at York last time but that was still a solid effort in a Class 2 and he's respected on this drop back in grade.
First two wins were over 7f and 1m but she coped well with the drop back to 6f when scoring at Newmarket (good) last month; that was a narrow success but she's only 2lb higher and is still unexposed as a sprinter; shortlisted.
Six turf wins include this race last year; completed an AW double off 2lb higher in December but he's not been at the top of his game since and was only eighth of ten over C&D last time; mixed messages and others are more persuasive.
Won at Haydock (6f, good) and Leicester (5f, heavy) last year and ended the season with fair third at Newbury; still looks feasibly treated and needs watching in the market back from 213 days off.
His last win was off 1lb higher at Goodwood (6f, good) last June; 0-9 since but he returned from wind surgery with a creditable effort at Nottingham (close fifth) 16 days ago and has possibilities if he can build on that; tongue-tie reapplied.
Her last five wins have been on AW but she returned to turf with an eyecatching third over C&D two weeks ago; 1lb lower here and has claims if this sets up for her closing style.
Solid sprint handicapper for the Channons over the years but only occasional flashes of his old self in 2024; has dropped down the weights but he reappeared for new yard with tailed-off effort at Ascot 16 days ago and can only be watched after that.
Versatile sort with 11 wins on CV; on dangerous mark and was placed at Lingfield (7f, AW) last month but she's not easy to predict and finished out the back at Goodwood last time; back up in trip; needs to bounce back.
