A respectable 24% career strike rate and a sound third here last week, but just one win from ten at this course and distance and the slowest speed rating in the field. Most of his recent runs have come at D1, so the grade drop helps, and the rail is a fair box at this level. He'll need the leaders to get in each other's way.

On back form she'd win this pulling a sled — she was rated in the 60s and 70s in A1 and open company earlier this year, and she won one of her two runs at this course and distance. But sprinting exposes her one flaw badly: she's the slowest breaker in the field by a wide margin with the worst first-bend figures, and 277m gives her no time to recover. Fifth in a D1 last week. Class says respect; the stopwatch says the race will be over before she warms up.

Ultra-consistent without ever winning — no victories but three placings from ten at this course and distance, and second here ten days ago. Her ratings barely move from the mid-30s, her times hover around 16.8, and that steadiness should have her in the picture again. But something always beats her, and with quicker dogs both sides of her the pattern looks set to continue.

The sharpest early pace and the best first-bend rating in the field — she should be the one they're all chasing into the turn, and trap 6 is the second-best box at this grade. She's another dropping from a higher level, with A2 form in the spring rated up to 65, and she was second here a fortnight ago. The flip side: she shows sharp early pace but can weaken in the closing stages, and her outright times are ordinary. At 277m the fade often doesn't matter — if she pings the lids she could make every yard.