My Bobby Dazzler
- J: Charlie Deutsch
- T: Mel Rowley
- F:
- Age
- 10
- Weight
- 10st 5lbs
- Or
- 117
Beaten a whisker by Zain Nights in this race off a 4 lb higher mark last year. Has failed to reproduce that level of form since, though, and it's been almost 2 years since he last got his head in front.
Zain Nights
- J: Gavin Sheehan
- T: Lucy Wadham
- F:
- Age
- 6
- Weight
- 11st 6lbs
- Or
- 132
Progressive last spring and completed the hat-trick when edging out the re-opposing My Bobby Dazzler in this race 12 months ago. Added to his tally in a first-time visor at Newbury in March but he wasn't in the same form in the Cheltenham handicap won by Long Draw next time.
Harbour Lake (Ire)
- J: Tom Cannon
- T: Alan King
- F:
- Age
- 9
- Weight
- 12st 0lbs
- Or
- 140
Strong traveller who resumed his progress when landing 8-runner handicap hurdle at Aintree (3m, good) in November. Runner-up both completed starts since, most recently beaten 2 lengths by Long Draw at Cheltenham and now meets that rival on 3 lb better terms.
Mostly Sunny (Ire)
- J: Tristan Durrell
- T: Dan Skelton
- F:
- Age
- 6
- Weight
- 10st 5lbs
- Or
- 117
Returned to form with first-time cheekpieces added when scoring at Plumpton (20.5f, good to soft) last month. Lost no caste in defeat when finding just one too good under a penalty at Sandown since and this stiffer test may well be in his favour.
Lihyan (Ire)
- J: William Maggs
- T: Rebecca Menzies
- F:
- Age
- 7
- Weight
- 10st 12lbs
- Or
- 124
Posted a career-best at Uttoxeter in October, doing well to come from last to first in a falsely run race before finishing a creditable third at Aintree later that month. Runner-up on second start following a break over 20.3f at Newcastle (since undergone a wind op) and he's in with a shout.
- Age
- 8
- Weight
- 10st 11lbs
- Or
- 123
Better than ever when notching a third career win at Stratford last summer. Struggled in a mares' listed race at Kempton in November but back on the up following a break when seeing off half-a-dozen rivals at Ludlow (21.2f, good) and she's not without each-way hope up 5 lb with Harry Cobden booked.
- Age
- 6
- Weight
- 11st 10lbs
- Or
- 136
Good second on debut for new yard at Fairyhouse last month and went one better in a 3m Down Royal handicap recently. However, this is more competitive and he could prove vulnerable under a penalty.
- Age
- 6
- Weight
- 11st 2lbs
- Or
- 128
Likeable front-runner who opened his account at Ascot (3m, good to soft) in December. Also hit the target at Doncaster (good) in March and while he couldn't live with Tiny Tetley over C&D last time, the result could be different now that he meets that rival on 7 lb better terms. Blinkers applied.
- Age
- 5
- Weight
- 10st 9lbs
- Or
- 121
Showed more like his French form when off the mark for current yard in 6-runner maiden hurdle at Bangor (19.6f, good) in March. Followed up under a penalty upped to 23.2f in a novice event at the same C&D last month but much more on his plate now handicapping.
- Age
- 7
- Weight
- 11st 6lbs
- Or
- 132
Far more good efforts than bad ones to his name and clear-cut C&D success last month when beating Thank You Ma'am by 4¼ lengths was a career high point. On the downside, he's been clobbered with an 8 lb rise, which may prove too burdensome in this deeper race.
Long Draw (Ire)
- J: Sean Bowen
- T: Olly Murphy
- F:
- Age
- 6
- Weight
- 11st 8lbs
- Or
- 134
Consistent type (yet to finish out of the frame from 11 starts over hurdles) who appeared to take a step forward when proving 2 lengths too good for Harbour Lake at Cheltenham. 6 lb rise looks about right but further progress will be needed if he's to follow up here.
Patriotik (Fr)
- J: Isabel Williams
- T: Evan Williams
- F:
- Age
- 6
- Weight
- 11st 0lbs
- Or
- 126
Fifth in a strong renewal of the Silver Trophy at Chepstow on return in October and hasn't done much wrong since, scoring at Doncaster on penultimate start. Good third in a big-field Uttoxeter handicap (23.3f, soft) last time and likely to be on the premises here, too.
- Age
- 6
- Weight
- 10st 5lbs
- Or
- 117
Off the mark at Fakenham (2½m, good to soft) in January and good second in a novice over the same C&D a month later. However, he was put in his place in the Plumpton handicap won by Mostly Sunny 19 days ago.
Timeform Verdict 
Not many of these can be ruled out with confidence. THANK YOU MA'AM had no answer to Tiny Tetley's finishing kick over C&D three weeks ago but a 7 lb swing at the weights gives Georgina Nicholls' representative a very realistic chance of reversing those placings. This step up in trip promises to suit Mostly Sunny and he is feared most, while Harbour Lake and his Cheltenham conqueror Long Draw are also likely to be in the mix.
Betting Forecast
25/1 My Bobby Dazzler, 12/1 Zain Nights, 7/1 Harbour Lake (Ire), 17/2 Mostly Sunny (Ire), 12/1 Lihyan (Ire), 16/1 Porter In The Park (Ire), 14/1 Topgun Simmy (Ire), 8/1 Thank You Ma'am, 40/1 Ki Woo (Fr), 8/1 Tiny Tetley, 13/2 Long Draw (Ire), 10/1 Patriotik (Fr), 22/1 Escapologist (Fr)