The nearly-dog of the finale. Second at this grade last week, second twice more in recent months, and placed in four of his ten course-and-distance runs — but never first past the post here. He shares the field's fastest best time at 29.44 and draws trap 2, nominally the best box at this grade, so the ingredients are all present. Ten runs of evidence say he finds one too good; at some point that changes, and a race this winnable is the kind where it might. Solid place claims at minimum.

Won at this grade three starts back and shares the fastest best time in the field, so the ceiling is competitive. The floor is the issue — her last run was a 47-rated fourth, and her book swings from 80 down to 45 with no warning. Two wins and four placings from ten course-and-distance runs make her a respectable each-way outsider, and trap 3 is fine at this grade. She beats this field on her good days; her good days arrive roughly every third run.

Won at this grade two starts back with a 77-rated run — proof the engine works — but followed it with a last-place finish rated 48, and that volatility is the story of her season: two wins from nine course runs surrounded by quiet efforts. Her best time of 29.57 leaves her a length or so shy of the leading trio anyway, and her last clocking was the slowest in the field. The rail draw is fair at this grade. Capable of better than last week; needs to be by several lengths.

Honest without headlines — third and fourth at this grade in his last two, one placing from six course-and-distance runs, and steady ratings in the 50s that put him a few lengths behind the leaders on paper. He's landed the one genuinely bad box at this grade too: trap 6 wins just one in ten of these. His 33-rated blip five runs back looks a one-off rather than a trend, so he'll likely run his race — it just isn't quite fast enough, from the wrong postcode.