TimeformBlog

Kazbow was progressive around this time last year, winning mile-and-a-quarter handicaps at Haydock and Doncaster. His recent return from 11 months off was disappointing, but it's way too soon to write him off.

La Estrella has a tremendous strike rate on fibresand and has continued his unbeaten record at Southwell with six successive victories this year. He is clearly in fine form, but is unproven at two miles and it's been a while since he last ran on turf.

Hawk Mountain is a pretty useful stayer who landed a C&D event last August and bettered even that form when making a winning return at Musselburgh last month. He has to be of interest again.

Mountain Hiker showed he has ability when winning a maiden last year, but seemingly also has his share of temperament (has twice refused to enter the stalls) and is tried in headgear now after being beaten a long way on his recent return.

Dazinski was impressive when winning a two-mile handicap at Ripon early last season. He was just as good when second over this C&D last July and has shown enough on both starts this year to suggest he's returned in form.

Beat The Rush has a steadily progressive profile in the main, winning twice over a mile and a half last year, and he offered the hope of more to come when third over a mile and three quarters at Musselburgh on his reappearance. He is likely to stay this far.

Gordonsville has been a consistent handicapper over the years and showed he's still as good as ever when third to Hawk Mountain at Musselburgh last time. He's 4 lb better off with that rival now.

Montparnasse won two handicaps at up to a mile and three quarters from Brian Meehan last summer and returned this year with a fine second at Ripon. He has been disappointing the last twice, though, and needs to bounce back.

Gifted Leader won at Haydock in May 2009. He was fit from hurdling when a good second to Veiled at Newmarket recently and is well worth a try at this trip.

Ocean Transit has enjoyed a good time of things of late, winning twice over a mile and a quarter last autumn and improving over hurdles after. She ran well over this trip at Haydock on last month's Flat return and is expected to figure again.

Bollin Judith was seemingly better than ever when beating Petella (close second at Ripon since) by five lengths over this trip at Newcastle last time. A 7 lb rise doesn't necessarily rule out the follow up.

Accumulate is getting on a bit but hasn't had much racing and he's been progressive of late, shaping well again when second over a mile and three quarters at Haydock last time. He should be well suited by two miles judged on his hurdling form.

Descaro was better than ever on his return to the Flat when winning at Pontefract in April. He has run creditably in the frame all three starts since and he has every chances if cheekpieces can help him pull out a bit more.

Cat o' Nine Tails improved to win handicaps at Thirsk and Musselburgh (twice_ in the second half of 2010. It would be no surprise if she does better gain at some stage, but there hasn't really been enough encouragement in her recent efforts to recommend her here.

Grande Caiman is almost certainly not the force of old but showed he's still capable of winning races when getting up late in a claimer at Lingfield in March. He has been given a chance by the handicapper and the yard is going really well.

Dark Ranger has done the vast majority of his Flat racing over a mile and ten furlongs, but clearly appreciated the step up to two and a quarter miles when landing a 17-runner handicap here last month. He is up 8 lb but remains unexposed at staying trips.

Dubara Reef had a very good year in 2010, winning five times up to two miles, and has shown even better form when runner-up at Haydock and Nottingham on his last two starts. He went down by just a neck last time so has an obvious chance off the same mark.

Timeform 1-2-3:
1. Accumulate
2. Dubara Reef
3. Dazinski

Timeform View: This is every bit as competitive as the numbers suggest and finding the winner won't be easy, but Accumulate shaped as though this trip would be right up his street when second at Haydock last time and is given the nod. Dubara Reef has to be considered on the back of his close Nottingham second off the same mark, with Hawk Mountain and Dazinski a couple of other likely types.

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