Windsor

The race preview singles out Time Saxon Warrior as the one to beat, and the reasoning is straightforward: this horse finished fourth on debut at Bath — a better result than most of the experienced runners in this field managed first time out — and the view is that there was more to come from that performance. The jockey-trainer partnership of Finley Marsh and Richard Hughes is a well-worn combination, winning roughly 1 in 6 races together. The catch is that, like all the others who have raced, dry ground today is something this horse has never faced.

Emerald Bay finished tenth on debut at Wolverhampton just under two weeks ago, beaten nearly 9 lengths, which gives little encouragement on paper. That race came on an all-weather surface, and today brings turf and dry conditions — both fresh challenges for this horse. One race tells you very little about a two-year-old, but there is a lot of improvement needed to figure here.

Lord Ragnar is another first-time runner, trained by the experienced Ed Dunlop whose yard has a decent record of producing well-prepared debutants. The sire Cotai Glory was a top-level sprint specialist, making 6f on dry ground a sensible starting point for this horse. At 15-1, the market is not convinced, but the profile is at least coherent.

Woodhay Wayfarer is a first-time racer from a first-time jockey-trainer combination, which means there is very little to build a case around — no shared history, no form, just potential. The sire Space Blues was a high-class sprinter who performed well on fast ground, so dry conditions over 6f is at least a sensible environment for a debut. Without more to go on, this is purely speculative.

Beach Ahead is making a racecourse debut with no form to speak of, and is also fitted with a tongue strap — a piece of equipment designed to help a horse breathe more comfortably, which sometimes signals the trainer expects a physical improvement from it. Bred by Dream Ahead, a fast sprinting sire, the 6f distance looks like a natural fit on pedigree. Beyond that, it is a blank slate.

It's A Dream is a first-time racer at long odds of 36-1, and there is very little to separate this horse from the other debutants in the field on paper. The sire Showcasing has produced plenty of sharp, early-maturing types who run well at two over sprint distances, which suits today's 6f. Beyond the breeding, this is unknown territory.

Harriet Vane goes to post as the longest-priced runner in the field at 51-1, which reflects how little the market knows — or expects — from this debut. The jockey-trainer pairing has managed just 1 win from 18 races together, which is a modest record. There is no form, and nothing in the available data to suggest an upset is coming.