Spirit Mixer and Aggagio look the most solid options but three fascinating candidates in ZINC WHITE, Good Show and Call My Bluff return from long absences and the first of those three pulled off a very similar trick on soft ground two years ago. The betting moves should be scrutinised for any further clues. Almuhit has experienced a striking revival over hurdles.[Richard Austen]
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The Chester Cup proved a bit too competitive for the second year running but he's shown enough this season to be given an each-way chance and soft ground would hold no fears; third in this race last year.
Acts on soft; last seen when tailed off lame in the Northumberland Plate (sole attempt at 2m) nearly two years ago on final start for Keith Dalgleish (same owners); should have had potential going into that race and he has plenty of stamina in the pedigree; new yard also runs Spirit Mixer, so the market should give important clues.
Ran away with the Chester Cup consolation race (2m2f, soft; 3lb higher today) in May 2023 after a 561-day absence; this time he's had 678 days off, having failed to cut any ice in two major handicaps that summer, with a sorry performance at Galway last time; stable sent out the first and third in a 2m handicap last Saturday after major layoffs.
C&D winner; thorough stayer who goes well on softer than good and mostly ran very well in defeat in 2022 and spring 2023; readiness after 758 days off is the big question.
Ex-Karl Burke; acts on soft; two creditable minor honours from three starts (all 1m4f) for new yard, gelded before latest; however, unraced beyond that on Flat (pulled up in one hurdle race) so others look more solid.
Three turf wins in France; 0-8 in Britain and the most competitive of those displays came when close up on the Kempton Polytrack (2m) late last year; well beaten at Haydock (2m; 8-1) 15 days ago but several stablemates have surged back to winning form recently.
Usually ridden by Jack Dace; ran respectably this spring on his only two attempts at 2m; hooded first time when second of five at Salisbury (1m6f) on latest start but he has much more to prove if the ground is softer than good.
Form figures of 112 over hurdles since wind surgery, on last occasion in a big field at Punchestown on debut for new yard; highly interesting if that major revival could be carried over to the Flat, which didn't happen over C&D 16 days ago but he was pulled up early after reportedly taking a false step soon after at the start; needs a close look.
1-6 in France, the win over 1m2f on heavy as 2yo; winning on stable debut (heavy) in December was easily the best of her three runs over hurdles; faded into mid-division in the Chester Cup (2m2f, good; 66-1) on return to Flat, which was a tough task and this race should be a lot weaker.
Campaigned mostly over jumps since early 2024; back to Flat with two minor honours over C&D (good) last month, coming from the rear under Ashley Lewis last time, and it was on soft ground that he made a big impact here in 2022; should go well.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
