Niffler

Typhoon Warrior looks a nice pick against the hot fave and should improve with this switch to hurdles and the step up in trip. From the Skelton yard, he’s exactly the type to take a step forward for hurdling. This race setup means he can be ridden a touch more patiently this time. Overall, he looks a positive each-way in this novice with room to improve, a strong yard, and the new test should be right up his street.

Two For Gold is a proper warrior, but he was pulled up in the Howden Silver Cup at Ascot last time. His last really big runs came in spring 2025 when second and earlier a winner in Class 2 handicaps at Ascot over about 3m, and he’s been sliding since off marks in the mid-140s. Tongue-tie and cheekpieces remain on, and overall I still respect him on his old form. He could outrun his price if this easier veterans’ company sparks him up.

Katios Queen arrives with some great bumper form for the Dan Skelton yard. Listed bumper form with an eye-catching third, beaten three lengths despite being on the back foot early. That was a huge step up from her debut and marks her as top class for the level. That effort alone catapults her clear on these terms.

Germanic looks like a contender back at his happy hunting ground. He bolted up last time and landed a handicap here (C&D) off a 6 lb lower mark, travelling extremely well before quickening clear by 1 length. A short break keeps him fresh. He's 2 from 3 at this venue overall and is very effective at 6 to 7f on the AW. Rowan Scott on board, and off 92 his mark looks wide open in this grade.

The Hardest Geezer has a very fair mark today, with his consistent profile and strong Ascot effort marking him as a major player to me. He went close when beaten just 1 length off a 1 lb lower at Ascot last time, racing freely but sticking on gamely to confirm he's still in top order. A solid sequence prior includes a C&D second that says he loves this track and trip.

Hold Up La Colmine loves Windsor and arrives with a cracking course record that makes him dangerous in this handicap despite a minor blip last time. He already won here by 25 lengths two starts back off a 9 lb lower mark and was third in this very contest 12 months ago. The last-time third wasn't his best, but that came over hurdles where he's less effective. He's 1 from 2 chasing here, and Pritchard's 3 lb claim gives him every fighting chance off 119.

Autocrat is a course specialist with 26 runs here that have given five wins, all on this polytrack and also over this distance. Solid placing record off higher handicap marks, so I reckon he can go close at this venue if finding that mojo

Charming Whisper returns to 1m with some solid prior winning form at the trip. He broke his maiden and followed up at this exact distance before. This confirms 1m on the Polytrack surface plays to his strengths as a steady galloper who stays on late. Heffernan takes positive rides with the horse here, and a mark of 76 looks doable. He's effective here, so could grind out a place.

Baila Conmigo ran better than the bare result on his debut last time and could mount a serious challenge back at Dundalk from this fair mark. He did too much too soon when beaten seven lengths here, racing in a hopeless spot early before keeping on. To me, that screams a second-time improvement may be around the corner. He is effective right across the trip range from 7f to 12f and loves this Polytrack, where his spring form marked him much better than recent efforts. Jack Kearney's 3 lb claim gives him every chance off 57 here.