Verdict

David O’Meara bids to win this for the third time in succession but Hortzadar remains 9lb higher than when landing a double on fast ground in April. Tom Dascombe has also won two of the five renewals and SHA LA LA LA LEE (NAP) has form in testing ground. He won a higher grade contest at Chester last month and is only 3lb higher today. Stablemate Calder Prince would prefer faster going and so would Masham Star but Mr Top Hat will handle the underfoot conditions, though last month’s win at Chester came over 1m2f and it was good to firm when Club Wexford scored at Wetherby a fortnight ago.

Formwatch

Hortzadar 17-2 (9-2) Held up towards rear, headway on outside over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders, 5th of 14, 8l behind Gossiping (8-7) at Epsom 1m 1f hcp (2) gd in May.

Masham Star (IRE) 9-4fav (9-2) Led, driven and headed when not much room on inside 2f out, ridden and kept on final furlong, held near finish, 3rd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Circus Couture (9-3) at Nottingham 1m hcp (2) gd in Jun.

Sha La La La Lee 8-1 (8-10) Slowly into stride, towards rear, pushed along over 4f out, ridden well over 1f out, stayed on towards finish, 5th of 10, 2 1/2l behind Kaeso (8-7) at Chester 1m hcp (2) gd in May.

Rogue 16-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, hard driven 2f out, weakened entering final furlong, 6th of 8, 10 1/2l behind That Is The Spirit (8-5) at Chelmsford City 7f hcp (3) pol in Jun.

Tricorn (IRE) 66-1 (9-0) Held up towards rear, some headway on outside over 2f out, run soon flattened out, 10th of 14, 14 3/4l behind Al Muffrih (8-12) at Redcar 1m 2f hcp (2) gf in May.

Gulf Of Poets 25-1 (8-10) Held up in touch in mid-division near side of group, ridden inside final 3f, soon weakened, 20th of 26, 30 3/4l behind Chatez (9-4) at Newbury 1m hcp (2) gs in Apr.

Donncha (IRE) 25-1 (9-2) Mid-division, headway 2f out, ridden chasing leaders over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 2 1/4l behind Sanaadh (9-5) at Kempton 7f hcp (3) pol in Mar.

Calder Prince (IRE) 12-1 (9-4) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed final 100 yards, 3rd and held towards finish, 3rd of 9, 1l behind Club Wexford (9-1) at Wetherby 1m hcp (4) gf in May.

Club Wexford (IRE) 13-2 (9-1) A little slow to break, soon mid-division, effort 2f out, challenged inside final furlong, led final 75 yards, stayed on, won at Wetherby 1m hcp (4) gf in May beating Markazi (9-8) by nk, 9 ran.

Mr Top Hat 5-1 (9-4) Took keen hold, with leader, led 8f out, ridden over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Fayez (9-7) at Ripon 1m 2f hcp (3) gd in Jun.