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As always in this race, the draw can be crucial and although the winner has come down the stand side (low draw), the winner can often be found in the middle to far side of the course (high number). Look at the draw carefully when making your selection! A couple have caught our eye:

Dandy Nicholls trained last year’s winner and has a very good record here. His stable choice is likely to be Tax Free. Lightly raced so far in his career, he has been well supported in Group Two company of late, and has performed with great credit. He will relish the drop back into handicap company and should be there at the finish.

Borderlescott carried on from where he left off last season, winning on his reappearance at York, and then running a decent fourth in Ascot’s Wokingham Handicap. He has since been nosed off in a listed race in Ireland and is a tough front runner.

Firenze finished in front of Borderlescott as Ascot, and is also very progressive. Her sister Frizzante was placed in this race in 2003 before going on to win the Group One July Cup the following year. The family improves with age, and Firenze has a great opportunity with the assistance of Frankie Dettori in the saddle.

An outsider to watch is Out After Dark. He’s been rather out of form in four starts this season. That could be due to his trainer’s poor form in the early part of the year. With the yard now firing, last year’s Portland Handicap winner could be seen flying at the end with his familiar late surge.

Hopefully that’s given you something to think about.

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