The favourite for this event is the John & Thady Gosden trained Slipofthepen for His Majesty The King who has been seen twice to date and is currently unbeaten.
Making his debut over a mile at Kempton he went on to bolt up by close to six lengths, showing a very good attitude.
Over the same course and distance he made it 2/2 again in stylish fashion in a Conditions Stakes off top weight and now making his turf debut he is the one to beat.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/04/23 | KEM | 8 | St/Slw | 9-6 | 1 |
| 30/11/22 | KEM | 8 | St/Slw | 9-7 | 1 |
The three year old Finn's Charm comes next for Charlie Johnston and he started this season off in great form and can build on that again here.
A two year old that showed a glimmer of ability when running five times and winning just the once at Musselburgh on his second career start.
Returning this term over a mile at the same track he landed the second win of his career when seeing off Gincident by over four lengths.
The form of that run is strong with the second since winning.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25/08/23 | YOR | 8 | GF | 9-7 | 9 |
| 18/08/23 | NMK | 8 | GF | 9-8 | 4 |
| 03/08/23 | GOO | 10 | Sft | 9-5 | 12 |
| 22/06/23 | ASC | 8 | GF | 9-9 | 25 |
| 29/05/23 | COL | 8 | Gd | 9-2 | 2 |
Grey's Monument for trainer Ralph Beckett will need to improve from his seasonal debut run but from his juvenile form could be overpriced.
Taking a few runs to get the hang of racing, he got off the mark in September when landing a Handicap over 7f at Haydock off a mark of 76.
Then sent to York he made it back to back wins in handicaps this time off 10lb higher when stepped up to a mile and finishing his two year old campaign he was a good second on heavy ground behind Knight in the Group Three Horris Hill Stakes.
Seen for the first time this season in tough conditions at Newbury in the Group Three Greenham Stakes, he ran no race back in eighth.
He will need to be much better than that here.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16/05/23 | SAN | 8 | GS | 9-2 | 2 |
| 22/04/23 | NBY | 7 | Sft | 9-2 | 8 |
| 22/10/22 | NBY | 7 | Hy | 9-2 | 2 |
| 08/10/22 | YOR | 8 | GS | 9-7 | 1 |
| 24/09/22 | HAY | 7 | GS | 9-5 | 1 |
The final runner in the race is the big outsider of the field Captain Winters for Kevin Ryan, who off what he has done this term has it all to do.
Showing a bit of form as a juvenile in novice events when finishing second at Haydock on soft ground and backing that up at Thirsk when getting off the mark.
He then finished last seen a close third behind Naval Power in a Listed event and in a similar event at Pontefract was fifth of nine behind Local Dynasty.
Given his debut this season in the same race as second favourite Finn's Charm at Musselburgh when well behind him, he looks to have it all to do to reverse that form and even if doing so it might not be enough to win the race.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16/05/23 | SAN | 8 | GS | 9-2 | 1 |
| 08/04/23 | MUS | 8 | GS | 9-9 | 4 |
| 17/10/22 | PON | 8 | GS | 9-5 | 5 |
| 03/09/22 | HAY | 8 | GF | 9-4 | 3 |
| 12/08/22 | THI | 7 | GF | 9-4 | 1 |
