The only dog in the field with a win at this grade, having scored at A9 in his third-last start with a performance figure of 52 — comfortably the best single effort among these five runners. He has also placed at A8 level, which puts him a clear step above on ratings. His composite score leads the field and his speed figures are solid without being spectacular. Trap two is historically one of the strongest draws in A9 races at Hove, and his patient running style should keep him out of early trouble. The concern is inconsistency — he followed that A9 win with a poor fifth and then bounced back to third at A8 — but in a race as weak as this, his class advantage should tell. The tentative confidence reflects the thin overall field rather than any serious worry about the pick himself.