John Dunlop won last year's renewal with subsequent Group 3 winner Beatrice Aurora so Afnoon is worthy of respect on her return having scored at Salisbury in October. Forgive also ended last season with victory when successful at Yarmouth, while Candycakes, Princess Caetani and Alkadi were all placed on their latest starts, with preference for the latter after last week's second at Musselburgh. However, THE GIVING TREE took up where she left off last year with a win at Nottingham and given a couple of winners have already come out of last month's race, Sylvester Kirk's filly is fancied to make it a hat-trick of wins here.
Zingana 8-1 (9-4) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, one pace inside final furlong, 7th of 9, 6l behind Royal Majestic (8-6) at Pontefract 1m 2yo fll hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Sep.
The Giving Tree (IRE) 6-1 (9-4) Held up, switched to outer over 4f out, headway 2f out, led 1f out, ridden out, won at Nottingham 1m 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gs in Apr beating Uncle Roger (8-12) by 1 3/4l, 12 ran.
Candycakes (IRE) 4-1 (8-9) Tracked leader, led over 5f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Bon Allumage (8-9) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn fll (5) pol in Apr.
Forgive 17-2 (9-0) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, kept on, won at Yarmouth 1m 2yo stks (5) gd in Oct beating Baheeja (9-0) by 1l, 12 ran.
Afnoon (USA) 33-1 (9-0) Held up towards rear, headway 2f out, ridden over 1f out, soon led, held on well, won at Salisbury 7f 2yo stks (5) gd in Oct beating Scarlet Belle (8-7) by 1 1/4l, 14 ran.
Alkadi (IRE) 4-1fav (9-6) Tracked winner, ridden and every chance over 1f out, ran on, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Half A Billion (9-4) at Musselburgh 7f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gs.
Princess Caetani (IRE) 9-2 (9-7) Held up in rear, switched right and headway over 1f out, hampered inside final furlong, not recover, ran on, 3rd of 9, 2l behind Al Jabreiah (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f fll hcp (5) pol in Apr.
Inffiraaj (IRE) 33-1 (8-12) Behind, shaken up over 1f out, never dangerous, 7th of 9, 7l behind Margate (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 3yo mdn stks (5) pol in Mar.
