I looked at every horse in the race and ended up with a short list of 6 and left many dangers on the floor of my office.

 

Of that short list, Brando drawn in Stall 13 who was runner up in this at 80/1 last year is again a danger based purely on Course and Autumn form. Creative Force; a Course winner and a winner of the trip has won on soft but having had a stellar rise from the Spring to mid Summer that saw it's mark rise from 89 to 110, doesn't look well handicapped, nor in the form of that purple patch either.

 

Happy Romance will be a big danger drawn in 6 for Richard Hannon, has won on this kind of Going but another whose main concern is a handicap mark that may be at it's current ceiling.

 

I'm left with ART POWER, DRAGON SYMBOL and GLEN SHIEL.

 

I can't get away from DRAGON SYMBOL as anything but an each way banker for Archie Watson and Oisin Murphy. A top class if sometimes unlucky horse, drawn 3 and has a withering turn of foot and these conditions are ideal for its style of running. 

 

Archie Watson could easily have a 1-2 with GLEN SHIEL who won this in 2020, drawn next to his stable mate and with the services of Hollie Doyle. It hasn't been in that kind of form recently but could easily revive and I think is the each way value of the race.

 

ART POWER has an obvious chance but drawn in Stall 20 it does seem away from the real action in terms of pace and fancied runners. For that reason I will side with the Wason pair but for those who like a "draw saver" with something on both sides of a big field draw, then I would not put anyone off an investment.

 

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If the earlier race could be a 1-2 for Archie Watson then this should be a 1-2 for the Gosdens.

 

SUNRAY MAJOR could be thrown in as a Group horse in a handicap bt I can't split it and stablemate KING LEONIDAS to be honest and at the prices that makes KING LEONIDAS good each way value.

 

Of the remainder the Haggas trained ALDAARY looks clear next best with Jim Crowley in the saddle.

 

At bigger prices only race and Course specialist ESCOBAR looks worthy of a small investment and the heart will have a few bob of shrapnel on him.

 

TIP -: KING LEONIDAS / Tracker -: Aldaary (have  a Tricast with Sunray Major)