Returns from a five-week break with an ordinary trial behind him and a course and distance record that reads no wins and one place from ten starts. His 16.17 clocking on his last race-night appearance was actually the second-sharpest recent time in this field, and the Rea kennel wins at a fair 20%, so he is not entirely without a pulse. But ratings that have topped 23 just once in eight runs and a winless card at these exact conditions leave him needing career-best form off a layoff. Place at best.

The definition of exposed: nine course and distance starts without a win or a place, ratings that have sat between 15 and 17 in seven of his last eight runs, and a last-of-six finish at this grade on his latest start. His times are mid-pack rather than terrible and trap four is a fair enough box at 18.6%, but there is not a single upward trend anywhere on his card. In a weak race someone has to fill the frame, and his consistency — such as it is — might do that. Winning is another matter entirely.

Second at this grade two starts back shows she can be involved in these, but the fundamentals are unforgiving: the slowest best time in the field by a quarter of a second, the lowest speed figures, no wins from eight course and distance starts, and ratings that dipped to single figures twice this summer. She does get trap three, the best occupied draw tonight at 20%, and her patient style at least means she avoids the first-bend scramble. The draw and the weakness of the race give her outside place claims; the stopwatch rules out more.