Won a Wetherby handicap (1m, good to firm) in June from a mark of 55, but has been well held in all three starts since. Has a tough enough task at the weights with some opponents and arrives in a seller with a fair bit to prove now.
Won a C&D (soft) handicap last season and followed up at Nottingham (6f, good) under a penalty. Handicapper largely in control since then. Ran well from this mark in a Chepstow handicap three starts ago and is a likely player now in this grade.
1-20, having scored over this trip at Wolverhampton last November, from a mark of 55. Has run some respectable races in defeat both on turf and AW this year and although he is not favoured by these weights, he could have a say if the headgear works.
Won two 6f sellers last year at Wolverhampton and Ripon, when with Richard Fahey. Badly out of sorts in three runs for this trainer (5f-7f) this season. Last of 12 over this trip last time and looks up against it on that evidence.
Second in three successive novice auction events as a juvenile (6f-7f) last year. Supported prior to seasonal reappearance at Carlisle (6f, good to firm) last month, when beaten over 8L. Looks to have decent claims now dropped in at this level.
Non-Runners
1
(7)
Sultan Baybars18
Weight: 9-2| Age: 4
T: D O'Meara J: C J McGovern
NR
Forecasts
Rotherhithe (10/11), Sultan Baybars (9/4), Zapateado (5/2), Shovel It On (5/1), Racehorse (9/1), Flo's Melody (33/1), Kaala Taara (100/1)
Shovel It On and Zapateado can both have cases made here, but ROTHERHITHE makes plenty of appeal on what she achieved last season and also how the weights are framed here, and she gets the vote. Sultan Baybars should be capable of making an impact, but carries risks.