the prophet

Still room for some improvement from the 3yo filly. One win from seven; runner-up twice. Three AW runs this year, runner-up in April, and in good shape. Just three career turf runs, a runner-up in her final start last year, and she is running on similar good/soft ground tonight. Helped by a good apprentice claiming 5 lb.

Some decent AW form from the 7-year-old this year. Back on turf two weeks ago and was a good 3rd of 13 over this C/D, coming from a long way back in that handicap. Good apprentice claiming 5 lb tonight, and he drops into a 0-50 classified stakes.

The 7yo is a previous C/D winner. Excuses last time out. Only beaten a neck four weeks ago over this C/D, on similar good/firm ground like tonight. This handicap is not as strong and should be a player.

The 3-year-old filly was a close third in a maiden race last August, behind two runners now rated 81 and 90. She lost her way in her next four starts. However, she's trained at a top yard and could bounce back after a seven-month break. Her handicap mark of 55 is very attractive.

Two runs this year for the 8yo mare and not beaten far on her return to turf five weeks ago. She's a previous C/D winner and could be ready to strike. She was rated 13 lb higher this time last year.

The 5-year-old should be better for his return run four weeks ago. He has the second-highest rating in the race. Only beaten a length last September in a strong-looking 12-runner French Group 1 contest. Suited by the slow ground and should go well in this Group 3 contest. The favourite, Never So Brave, might be more suited to a quicker surface.

Just five career runs for the 3yo filly. Unexposed and looks set for a big run in this Group 3 contest after a fair run three weeks ago on her return. She was a close runner-up in a Group 2 last Sept and followed that with a big run at the Breeders' Cup. Trip and ground conditions are ideal.

Hard not to fancy the French-trained 5yo in this Group 1 contest. He was a very close runner-up in this 12f contest last year, 7L clear of the rest, and has since won five Group 1s in a row. He won the £2.5m Sheema Classic in March, quite easily, and comes here fresh after a ten-week break. His last nine RPR ratings have been between 123??"131. His main rival has only posted one RPR rating above 121.

The 4yo finished off last year with two big runs and returned with another fine effort five weeks ago. Same mark for this 5f dash and he could take a step forward. He was 2nd of 11 in that return run, with the winner having the benefit of a recent run going into the race. The selection wasn't given a hard time in the final 0.5f when not catching the winner, but he easily had the measure of some high-rated runners. He meets that winner again in this handicap, but he can reverse those placings on 9 lb better terms now.

Progressive and still not fully exposed. Three wins from three. Impressive winner three weeks ago in the Group 2 Dante Stakes over 10f. He travelled the best and was well on top at the line, suggesting this 12f trip will bring more improvement. It was a strong-looking field that he beat that day. The O'Brien runner is the current favorite, but he didn't beat much last time out.

The 3yo was only beaten 2L on his return five weeks ago in a very strong conditions race, by a runner who has since run well at Group 1 level. He should be better for the run. Oisin Murphy is in the saddle. A handy-looking opening 93 handicap mark, and he could easily be a class above these rivals.