TimeformBlog

Action Front hails from a stable whose newcomers invariably need their first run, so his winning debut over a mile and a half at Goodwood last month is all the more impressive. He is a useful prospect in the making.

Antarctic is the first foal of a winning two-year-old and got off the mark at the first attempt at Haydock last month, despite clear signs of greenness. He has the physical scope to do better, especially now tackling a mile and a half.

Baltic Light is a North Light filly who finished runner-up to and odds-on stablemate on her debut at Nottingham and duly went one better over 11 furlongs at this track last time. She is sure to improve again and the extra furlong will suit.

El Mansour has improved as he has been stepped up in trip and there's nothing wrong with his attitude for all he's still a maiden. He meets some promising sorts here, though.

Western Prize has plenty of stamina in his pedigree, so there was a lot to like about the way he got the job done on debut in a mile maiden at Lingfield in January. He hasn't been seen since, but is sure to improve now his stamina is drawn out.

Malanos has been placed on two of his five starts in turf maidens up to a mile and a quarter and will appreciate this step up in trip, but looks up against it switched to handicaps against some useful prospects.

Area Fifty One stepped up considerably on his debut run in December when making all in an 11-furlong maiden here the following month. He has since left John Gosden for 27,000 gns.

Ruby Brook justified support when fending off two experienced rivals on his debut at Lingfield in January. He has a similar profile to his stablemate Western Prize in that he's not been seen since and is bred for this sort of trip.

Montegonian has progressed with three quick runs in maidens over a mile, the latest two at this venue. A fully-fledged jockey takes over for this handicap debut and he's bred to be suited by this trip.

Tijori improved to land a maiden over the extended mile at Wolverhampton in January and picked up a handicap at Lingfield the following month. His progress has rather stalled since and he looks up against it now tackling a mile and a half.

Samarkand shaped with promise in three all-weather maidens at the end of 2010. He's very much the type to come into his own in middle-distance handicaps and will strip fitter for last month's reappearance.

Dipolmasi has improved this year, opening his account in an 11-furlong handicap here in April. He went up 4 lb as a result so needs to progress again.

Gower Rules is a front runner who finally got off the mark in an 11-furlong handicap here in April. He has finished runner-up twice since, but is fully exposed and out of the weights too.

Blue Cossack developed a consistent profile on the all-weather this winter, gaining the first of his two victories here. He ran creditably over C&D when last seen in March, but meets a different calibre of opposition here.

Timeform 1-2-3:
1.    Antarctic
2.    Action Front
3.    Western Front

Timeform View: As good a race of its type as could be imagined, four of the runners protecting unbeaten records. While it's very hard to separate them, represents last year's winning trainer and gets the nod over Action Front and Western Prize.

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