Spotlight: Strode just over 4l clear of subsequent Derby fifth and St Leger fourth Alderman on 1m3f Newbury debut (good) in April; on the back of an 11l romp at Kempton (1m3f again, AW) on his next start he went off at 13-8 for the Group 2 King Edward VII at Royal Ascot (1m4f, good to firm) but ended a remote third having raced freely (as he did at Kempton); subsequently gelded (which may help him settle) and returns in first-time cheekpieces; probably remains a really smart prospect but the outside stall could make life awkward.

Spotlight: Well-backed winner on debut at Ayr (7f, soft) last September and made it 2-2 in Wolverhampton novice (8.6f, AW) on return in March; lost his unbeaten record but advanced his RPR again when third in the Esher Cup (handicap) at Sandown (1m, good) in April; not seen since (possibly to avoid fast ground) but evidently capable when fresh and shapes as if 1m2f will suit; could make up for lost time.

Spotlight: His ability to act on turf has to be taken on trust but he's shown notable promise on AW, readily brushing aside recent novice winner Cloud Forest (third also won next time) over 1m3f at Kempton before returning there to chase home the exciting Fortitudine (made it 3-3 in Listed race since) in early September; very interesting handicap debutant.

Spotlight: Low-mileage 3yo who quickly reached a smart level in the spring; his progress has stalled the last twice but it was still a solid start to his handicap career after ten weeks off when fifth of 11 at Sandown (1m2f, good to soft), holding a narrow lead for a long way in a first-time visor (retained); while his profile isn't as eye-catching as that of stablemate Water To Wine, it's possible he could find a bigger performance.

Spotlight: Added to his string of good C&D efforts when third of 15 to the reopposing Stoneacre Donny on good to soft five weeks ago but is consistency means he doesn't get cut much slack by the handicapper.

Spotlight: Opened his handicap account over C&D (good to soft) in September, readily seeing off 14 rivals including next-time-out winner Pearl River and reopposing trio Castle Stuart (third), Have Secret (fourth) and Wahdan (seventh); turned out again under a 6lb penalty in a hot 3yo handicap at Doncaster only four days later and ran with credit in fifth considering he met a bit of trouble; that certainly shouldn't be taken to suggest this sort of mark is beyond him; gets the vote.

Spotlight: Has posted mixed results in a light 2026 campaign but is competitively treated on peak form, notably his second to Grey Cuban in this race last year (also second over 1m4f at 2025 Ebor meeting); freshened up since a respectable sixth over 1m4f at Ascot (1m4f, good to firm) 63 days ago; no surprise were he to go well.

Spotlight: Useful 5yo who bounced back to best and went down by only a whisker, despite pulling hard, in a 1m4f course handicap at the Ebor meeting; free again and weakened into sixth when favourite over an extended 1m5f at Newbury (good to firm) since; on the back of that connections have had a rethink over the trip (previous attempt at 1m2f came in a maiden in May 2024).

Spotlight: Added to his fine York record when chasing home Raammee over C&D on Ebor day (good to soft); went one better at the Doncaster St Leger meeting (1m2f, good) but found out off this sort of mark in the Cambridgeshire since; Jack Nicholls' 3lb claim can only help but suspicion at least the odd one or two will be too well handicapped for him.

Spotlight: Smart and improved effort when making all by 6l on his reappearance at Goodwood (1m2f, good) in May; a double-figure rise was more than enough to find him out in the John Smith's Cup over C&D and Chesterfield Cup at Glorious Goodwood on his next two outings but he was back on form with a tongue-tie added (retained) when third in the Lanark Silver Bell at Hamilton (1m4f, good to soft) seven weeks ago; nudged back up 2lb.

Spotlight: Most likeable type who won over C&D (good) in June before posting another cracking effort at this venue with third of 16 over 1m4f at the Ebor meeting (good to soft); creditable third in the Mallard at Doncaster (extended 1m6f, good) since; likely to give another good account but may not have much in hand of his mark now.

Spotlight: Three 1m handicap wins (good to firm and good to soft) in a solid campaign; kept on for a good sixth (third of 17 in his group) in the 27-runner Cambridgeshire at Newmarket (1m1f, good to firm) a fortnight ago, suggesting 1m2f is worth a go; yet another who could have a say.

Spotlight: Unraced at two; huge step forward on his second start when comfortably taking six-runner Yarmouth maiden (good to firm) in July then defied a penalty at Haydock (also 1m2f, good); only sixth on 1m4f Ascot handicap debut but it doesn't tell the whole story as he was still in front inside the final furlong; Tom Marquand seemingly prefers Yabher but this low-mileage 3yo retains potential back at 1m2f.

Spotlight: Generally progressive since being gelded, bouncing back from a down-the-field effort in the Ebor over 1m6f here with a near-miss over 1m2f at Newbury (good to firm) three weeks ago; a further 2lb nudge doesn't make his task any easier but he's likely to give his running.

Spotlight: This front-runner saw off Insanity to win this off 2lb lower on good 12 months ago; it took a bit of time to get him back to the track this year but he recorded two good efforts in Listed company last month; likeable but a very smart handicap performance is required to defy his lofty mark in a race as hot as this.

Spotlight: Smart handicapper on his day, including a win in the 2024 November Handicap, but has yet to get close this year (remote fourth latest) and Doncaster next month may be the main aim again.

Spotlight: Very useful on AW; yet to prove he's quite the same force on turf but his entitled to come on for last month's reappearance sixth of 11 to Balzac at Newbury (1m2f, good to firm), his first outing for 519 days.

Spotlight: Returned to form when fourth to Stoneacre Donny (stablemate Castle Stuart third) over C&D (good to soft) last month; backed it up with a fair fifth at Ayr (1m2f, soft) since but likely vulnerable in a race as strong as this one.

Spotlight: Dropped 10lb over the summer and took advantage in a Class 3 at Pontefract (1m2f, good) 16 days ago but there's a suspicion a 4lb rise may leave him vulnerable back in a higher grade.

Spotlight: Strong 6-14 record (mainly for Denis Quinn) but absent since a respectable fifth of 14 over 1m2f at Lingfield on Good Friday (only outing for John Ryan); with another new stable today and there has to be a chance that he will need this race before a winter campaign.