Back
Newyorkstateofmind - 17:40 Kempton
Newyorkstateofmind remains a maiden, but showed much-improved form switched to the all-weather at Kempton last time on just his second start in a nursery, proving his mark a fair one. He raced prominently on that occasion and travelled well on his first start on polytrack, and could potentially have even more to offer on this surface. Able to race from a 1 lb lower mark now, he looks an attractive proposition from a handicapping perspective, and should be backed accordingly.
Lay
Ulysses - 16:40 Southwell
Ulysses has been sent off at prohibitive odds on all three starts over hurdles for Dan Skelton, making a mockery of his opening mark on debut for the yard at Stratford in August. However, he failed to land the odds turned out under a penalty just three days later, and again burnt the fingers of backers when failing to stay at Fontwell last time. This slightly shorter trip will be in his favour, but at the likely prices he is worth opposing, with last-time-out winner Sandy Boy preferred.
Smart Stat
Lyricist Voice - 18:40 Kempton
22% - Andrea Atzeni's strike rate at KEMPTON PARK
Lyricist Voice shaped with promise on debut at Newcastle in July and ran to a similar level when narrowly denied over this C&D last time, coming from further back than the winner and getting going all too late. It was residual greenness that was holding him back to begin with and he only just lost out on the nod, so there should be plenty more to come from him, and he is taken to go one place better in what doesn't look the strongest race of its type.