Enemy
- J: Charles Bishop
- T: Ian Williams
- F:
- Age
- 8
- Weight
- 9st 12lbs
- Or
- 104
Winless since landing a minor event at Southwell at the start of last year and while he returns to handicap company on a workable mark, the 8-y-o is probably best watched following a 10-month absence.
Box To Box (Ire)
- J: Hector Crouch
- T: Hugo Palmer
- F:
- Age
- 6
- Weight
- 8st 10lbs
- Or
- 88
Chester regular who won his first race away from the Roodee for over 3 years when making all for a pretty decisive success over 10.4f here (good) a fortnight ago. Remains feasibly treated up 6 lb, but this is a much tougher assignment.
Sol Cayo (Ire)
- J: Oisin McSweeney
- T: Fionn McSharry
- F:
- Age
- 5
- Weight
- 8st 12lbs
- Or
- 90
Has proved as good as ever for current connections, ending his winter all-weather campaign on a winning note at Southwell in January and recently opened turf account back from a break in a small-field Pontefract handicap (1½m, good). However, much more on his plate up 6 lb in this competitive race.
Great Bedwyn
- J: Joe Leavy
- T: Richard Hannon
- F:
- Age
- 5
- Weight
- 8st 13lbs
- Or
- 91
Useful handicapper who returned from 6 months off at the top of his game when winning 14-runner handicap at York (11.8f, good) in May. Perhaps shouldn't be judged too harshly on his subsequent below-par display at Epsom, but others make more appeal here in any case.
Chillingham (Ire)
- J: Archie Young
- T: Edward Bethell
- F:
- Age
- 6
- Weight
- 9st 4lbs
- Or
- 96
Winless last year, but posted some good efforts in defeat and left low-key reappearance behind when going close in a first-time visor at York (11.8f, good to firm) where he was just touched off by the re-opposing My Dream World but later awarded the race. 4 lb rise fair and couldn't rule out.
Midnight Lion
- J: Lauren Young
- T: Jim Goldie
- F:
- Age
- 5
- Weight
- 8st 5lbs
- Or
- 83
Has done really well at Newcastle since joining present yard, winning 5 times at that course between December and March. Another solid effort there when fourth in the 19-runner Northumberland Vase last weekend, but the challenge now is to reproduce that form back on turf.
Paddy The Squire
- J: Andrew Mullen
- T: Iain Jardine
- F:
- Age
- 5
- Weight
- 8st 7lbs
- Or
- 85
Looked better than ever when keeping on well to land a Chester handicap (10.3f, good to soft) on his return/first run since being gelded. Subsequent York third was no backward step and, with this step back up in trip unlikely to be a bad thing, he's a live each-way candidate off the same mark.
Stressfree (Fr)
- J: Daniel Tudhope
- T: David O'Meara
- F:
- Age
- 5
- Weight
- 9st 10lbs
- Or
- 102
Hurdles winner in February and has continued the good work in this sphere, posting several creditable efforts in defeat prior to striking over C&D at the end of May. No show at Royal Ascot since, but that can be excused given his overall reliability and he may well bounce back with a bold show.
- Age
- 4
- Weight
- 8st 2lbs
- Or
- 80
Bagged handicaps at Southwell and Musselburgh (both at around this trip) in March/April before a near-miss at Chester. Form has dipped a little the last twice, though, and while he's dangerous to discount off a light weight, a clear career-best is certainly needed.
Night Breeze (Ire)
- J: Luke Morris
- T: Ian Williams
- F:
- Age
- 5
- Weight
- 8st 8lbs
- Or
- 86
Completed hat-trick of wins in middle-distance handicaps last summer and clearly sharper for his reappearance when running out a clear winner at Ascot (1½m, firm) in May. Wasn't disgraced off 7 lb higher at Epsom since, but will need to find improvement from somewhere if he's to emerge on top here.
- Age
- 4
- Weight
- 8st 13lbs
- Or
- 91
Sprouted wings when upped to 1¼m last summer, winning 4 handicaps on the bounce. Further progress this season, adding to his tally at Doncaster and Epsom before finishing third in a messy race at Windsor. Will get the strong pace he needs here and this step up in trip looks a good move.
Plage De Havre
- J: P. J. McDonald
- T: Andrew Balding
- F:
- Age
- 4
- Weight
- 9st 0lbs
- Or
- 92
Proved 4½ lengths too strong for the re-opposing Midnight Lion (3 lb pull) when opening his account at Newcastle in February. Just second run on turf when third in a York handicap (11.8f, good) last time and he's of strong interest off the same mark.
Minstrel Knight
- J: Connor Beasley
- T: Edward Bethell
- F:
- Age
- 4
- Weight
- 8st 9lbs
- Or
- 87
Three wins during solid 3-y-o campaign, including a heavy-ground 1¾m handicap here in September. Encouraging start to this season when fourth of 11 at Hamilton and, likely to come on for that run, he's not without each-way hope. Yard also represented by Chillingham.
Sir Lowry's Pass
- J: Paul Mulrennan
- T: Ed Walker
- F:
- Age
- 4
- Weight
- 9st 2lbs
- Or
- 94
Progressive 4-y-o who justified strong support when making a winning reappearance at Goodwood (1¼m, good to firm). Attempted to come from further back than the pair that beat him when third in the Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar next time and this step up in trip could help unlock further improvement.
Timeform Verdict 
A typically competitive renewal of this valuable handicap, but SIR LOWRY'S PASS nevertheless stands out given his progressive profile and the promise of even better to come now upped to this trip. He wasn't seen to best effect when third in a notable Redcar handicap last time and gets the nod ahead of fellow unexposed 4-y-o's Plage de Havre and My Dream World. Cases can also be made for City of Delight, Minstrel Knight and Paddy The Squire.
Betting Forecast
66/1 Enemy, 25/1 Box To Box (Ire), 20/1 Sol Cayo (Ire), 33/1 Great Bedwyn, 14/1 Chillingham (Ire), 28/1 Midnight Lion, 14/1 Paddy The Squire, 10/1 Stressfree (Fr), 16/1 Sportingsilvermine (Ire), 18/1 Night Breeze (Ire), 12/1 City Of Delight (Usa), 15/2 Plage De Havre, 14/1 Minstrel Knight, 5/1 Sir Lowry's Pass