Edges the nod on the strength of his first-bend rating of 56 — best in the field — and a drop from A5 that suggests he has scope to improve at this level. From the rail draw he should get a clean first bend and his early pace gives him the platform to use Hove's geometry in his favour. His average performance of 52 isn't commanding but his all-rounder profile means he rarely runs a stinker, and his peak of 61 shows he can find another gear. The concern is whether he has the raw speed to sustain through the final bends — his finishing is adequate rather than devastating. Still, at A6 the first bend is often the whole race, and he's the most likely to lead into it.