Ballinabola Phil brings the joint-best speed and bend ratings in the field — both maxed at 100 — which means he clocks seriously fast times and handles bends as well as any dog in the race. He's a Fader who led and won at Oxford A5 with a 72 performance before placing 2nd on his next start and fading to 5th last time. His form is a little inconsistent, but on a tight track that heavily favours dogs who get to the front early, his raw pace should see him lead into the first bend from the structurally dominant rail draw. Trap 1 wins at 22.3% from 865 runs here, and his trap suitability of 40 suggests he can use it. First visit to Valley is the main unknown.