Worcester

One of only two horses here with any racecourse experience, and the form reads better than it sounds — second on one occasion, then eighth at Cheltenham, which is about as tough an assignment as a young horse can face. Now absent for 141 days, the longest break of anyone in this field, so there is a question about whether that layoff has sharpened or blunted the horse's edge. At 5-to-1, the market rates this as a serious contender, likely on the strength of that Ludlow runner-up.

Another debutant with no form to speak of, but Alan King is a trainer who knows how to prepare horses for days like this, and the jockey-trainer partnership here wins roughly 1 in 6 races together — a solid record. By Vadamos out of a Kayf Tara mare, the stamina credentials are there for a two-mile test. At 6-to-1, the market is treating this as a serious contender despite the blank form page.

The horse the editorial team has singled out as the one to follow, despite never having raced before. The reasoning centres on a pedigree that suits this sphere — by Waldgeist, a high-class influence, out of a Turbo Speed mare — and a trainer in Mickey Bowen who has been winning regularly in these flat races for jumpers, landing 21 winners from 85 races with son Sean in the saddle. That jockey-trainer combination winning roughly 1 in 4 races together is among the strongest stats in this field.

Never raced before, so there is absolutely nothing in the form book to work with. The breeding — by Pour Moi out of a Kapgarde mare — points towards jumping rather than flat racing, which is at least the right direction for this type of event. Market confidence is modest at 12-to-1, suggesting the yard is not expecting a debut winner.