The unknown quantity. He has raced just once — a promising second here at this grade ten days ago — and one run tells you very little, but his trial work catches the eye: a 15.60 spin from the rail last month that is quicker than anything the proven dogs here have recorded in a race. Newcomers with one start and flashy trials are notoriously hard to trust, since trial times come without the rough and tumble of a real race. If the trial speed is real he could win this; the honest answer is nobody knows yet.

An interesting one from the in-form Whitton kennel. Her racing form at this level has been modest — second last time but with ratings in the teens and twenties, and no win in four course and distance starts — yet she trialled twice this summer in 15.80 and 15.82, quicker than her official racing best. She showed 44-to-60-rated form in A6 company over the longer trip earlier in her career, so ability is in there somewhere. Trap four is a fair box. If the trial speed shows up in a race she goes close, but her actual race record here says places rather than wins.

The rocket out of the boxes — her early speed and first-bend ability are the best in this field by a distance, and over 238 metres that usually means the race is yours to lose. Unfortunately she has drawn trap five, the worst box at this grade and trip winning under 15%, her ratings have slipped over her last few runs, and she was last of six on her latest start. One win from nine course and distance attempts. She will almost certainly lead to the bend; whether she is still in front at the line from that draw, on her recent form, is another matter.

Gets the best box in the race — trap six wins nearly 22% at this grade — but not the profile to use it. He is a slow starter who does his best work late, the wrong way round for a one-bend dash, and his last run was a poor sixth. There is real ability in his back form, with 42 and 45-rated efforts at A7 over the longer trip, and his 15.61 career best is actually the fastest clocking in the field, but that was some time ago and he has been off since late June. One to watch for a bounce-back, not one to rely on.