Impressive in his most recent starts, winning last time out and finishing a close second before that, both at a level below tonight's grade — a genuine step up in class here. Before that recent pair there's a gap in the record back to the turn of the year, when he was competitive at a different track without ever quite winning. No clocked speed figure is available for him at this trip, so the pace assessment leans on the finishing positions rather than the raw clock. The stripes have been a solid draw at this trip and grade, tied for second-best, and his trainer wins better than a third of the time overall, one of the strongest rates in this field. The step up in grade is the obvious question mark, but the pair of wins immediately before it suggest he's ready to find out.

A mixed recent book of form, with a placed effort at this exact grade and trip last time out but a scattering of moderate results either side at the weaker grade below. On the clock he shares the fastest recorded speed rating in this field, and his most recent time was actually his quickest of the campaign, a promising sign heading in. The white jacket has been comfortably the weakest draw at this trip and grade, managing barely one in twenty winners, which is a serious structural obstacle. His trainer wins close to a quarter of the time overall, a fair return, though the specific record from this box is poor. There's plainly speed there on the clock, but the draw is about as unhelpful as it gets at this trip and grade.

Won four of his last five starts, but every one of those came at a considerably weaker grade, so this represents a significant step up in company. His only run at this tougher level was well beaten last time out, which is a fair reflection of the gap in class he now needs to bridge. On the clock he sits toward the back of this field, his slowest recent time coming in his last start against similar opposition. The black jacket is a modest draw at this trip and grade, and his trainer wins close to a quarter of the time overall, with a strong specific record from this box. The winning run at the lower level shouldn't be dismissed entirely, but the jump in class looks a stretch too far tonight.

Struggling for form, finishing in the bottom half of the field in four of his last six starts without a win across that entire run. He's also comfortably one of the slower dogs in this field on the clock, adding to the concerns. The blue jacket has been the weakest draw at this trip and grade, managing barely one in twenty winners, and his trainer has yet to register a win from a small handful of runs. There isn't much in the recent profile to build a case around, with the draw, the pace figures and the trainer record all pointing the same way. Up against it on today's numbers with little to suggest an obvious turnaround.