A competitive race where we have a significant number of unexposed types whose form so far suggests that they may need proper Summer ground and also a run or two under their belts before being competitive. The going description is Good but they did have rain yesterday so there may be some juice in the already high water table ground.  

 

At the top of the market the Gosdens horse Slipofthepen, owned by the King, is all about untapped potential and as such probably best watched. One I suggest TRACKING is an ex Gosden horse now with David O'Meara called Thetheoryofeverything, a nice handicapper for a few years no doubt for the O'Meara yard. Hafeet Alain would be high on the list on better Going, with a run and with a possibly better draw than Stall 1 and should be winning at some point but probably not today. 

 

I narrowed the 17 down to a shortlist of 5 horses and would rate them in this order.

 

BOPEDRO ticks every box for me, an excellent Course and Distance record on both Courses here, no ground concerns, has had an AW run so should be sharp enough and past evidence suggesting a high draw may be a small advantage. There really isn't any excuse for him not running a place at the very least.

 

DUTCH DECOY is another who has had a run whose form suggests it has every chance too, a draw in Stall 4 also gives us a bit of tactical variation if the draw or more likely pace angles offer that side any sort of advantage.

 

For some shrapnel, I really like the profile too of BENACRE another who is race fit and ticks all of the right boxes and if there is one who can run well fresh and beat those who are possibly tighter and fitter, it would be the Channon horse MAJESTIC who has dropped to a nice mark and who definitely hit the ground running on its first appearance last season with a big field placed run.

 

I mentioned a fifth and it is far more speculative if you fancy a smaller flutter, PRENUP somewhat jumped off the page at me for Jane Chappel-Hyam at bigger odds it has won fresh, won on heavy and run well over further, so a bold run may not be a complete surprise if the surface is softer than we think and it can stay on up the hill out of the dip.