Josephine Gordon: If she can come on again, then she must have a leading chance
Apphia
This looks a very competitive Listed race but my filly is right up there on ratings, is improving, and one of the least exposed in the field. She didn’t enjoy the best of luck on her first starts, when just beaten by Serenada at Sandown, and having to settle for a dead-heat at Goodwood. But they were clearly very promising efforts and she progressed again when stepped up to 1m4f for the Ribblesdale last time, staying on really nicely into fifth. If she can come on again, then she must have a leading chance in a competitive race.
Interlink
I have ridden him on his last two starts. He was a little bit disappointing over 5f at Chelmsford last time, but I think this 6f trip suits him better, as he had earlier shown when second at Newcastle. He races off a 2lb higher mark here but he hasn’t been with Mick Appleby long and hopefully there is more to come from him now he steps back up in distance.
Manchego
He was very disappointing when we last saw him at Newbury in May, but that run was too bad to be true. It came at a time when some of the horses weren’t firing, and he probably wasn’t right, but then again maybe 1m3f on soft simply didn’t suit him, either. He is also 3lb out of the handicap here, too, which isn’t ideal. But if he returns to the form of his first two starts, a second over 7f and a win at this trip, then I would like to think then he could be thereabouts, for all he has questions to answer now after Newbury. His recent work has been good, though.
Dream Start
She was very highly-tried on her first two starts, not least in the Guineas behind Winter, but she was able to show a bit more when dropped to maiden company over course and distance last time, finishing fourth. She will obviously have to improve a lot again to beat the likes of Buxted Dream, though.
Mazyoun
When everything falls right for him there is a decent handicap in Mazyoun, and hopefully this is it. I think 7f is his trip, and we didn’t get the run of the race at York last month. And he again was probably not seen to best effect when fourth at Sandown last time. I think he is weighted to run a big race here if he gets the breaks, and he finished a good second in a maiden at this track last season, too.
Shamrokh
This could be a hot handicap and there are probably a few in here with better profiles than him, if I am being honest. He appears to have struggled in two starts this season, but at least he has been dropped 4lb in the weights and hopefully the step up to 1m2f for the first time will suit. But it looks a tough task for him, as there are some lightly-raced and progressive horses against him.
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