Summary
A good turnout for this heritage handicap that has a rich history of throwing up future Pattern class performers although with the top-rated runner lining up from a mark of just 89 this contest lacks the quality of many recent renewals although that's not to say that they won't prove their equals in time.
It may just be an anomaly but none of the last 10 winners have made a winning debut and applying that strong statistic along with excluding those that haven't raced at least three times or finished in the first four last time out significantly reduces the number of runners to consider.
Rewarded, Expense Claim and Almuftarris comprise the short-list with any easing of conditions expected to favour James Toller's charge who should appreciate the step up in trip but the nod goes to the last-named whose trainer won this race in 2009.
His Smart Strike colt shaped well in a traditionally hot maiden on the July Course before chasing home Investec Derby fancy Main Sequence at Yarmouth and proved that he had trained on when winning his maiden at Lingfield.
