Ripon

The race editor's top pick, and it is easy to see why — a close fourth at Wolverhampton 11 days ago was eye-catching from a horse that has never before raced on normal ground conditions, so today's surface is uncharted territory. If that Wolverhampton run translates, this unexposed three-year-old could easily outrun its price, and the trainer has been in decent nick lately.

The only horse in this field with a win to its name on normal ground conditions, Port Darwin ran a solid second at Kempton just eight days ago and arrives here as one of the highest-rated in the field. Jockey Billy Garritty has been in sharp form recently, winning 3 from 11 rides in the last two weeks. The blinkers stay on and the distance suits — this is quietly one of the more compelling cases in the race.

The most experienced horse in the field by some distance — 11 races compared to the field average of six — and Mereside Princess has placed three times despite never winning, which at least shows she can be competitive. A near-miss fourth at Wetherby just 12 days ago, beaten by the narrowest of margins, suggests she is running consistently enough. She carries the lowest weight in the field, which is another small advantage worth noting.

Six races without a win or a place finish, and finishing positions that have generally been heading in the wrong direction. The standout fact here is simply that it is the longest-priced horse in the field at 17/1, and the data does not offer much to argue against that assessment. Honest but limited.