TimeformBlog

Uphold has won twice at up to a mile and a half this season and was a good second over a mile at Lingfield on his penultimate start. He wasn't at his best when unable to dominate last time and could find this too tough.

Line of Duty took another step forward when winning a big-field mile-and-a-half handicap in May and has since run well in defeat when third at Ayr. He will face competition for the lead here, but still doesn't have many miles on the clock.

Easy Terms has been a revelation for her thriving stable, completing at four-timer under this rider in the Cumberland Plate when last seen two months ago. She has been given a break and there's a chance she'll have more to offer with conditions to suit.

Butler struck at just the second time of asking for Luca Cumani when swooping late over a mile and a quarter at Ripon in May, and has shaped better than the bare result on all three starts since. The trip is fine and a bold bid is expected.

Lady Chaparral finally got her act together in handicaps when scoring comfortably over 11.5 furlong at Carlisle last month. She pulled hard and struggled off an 8 lb mark at York last time, and this isn't much easier.

Becausewecan bounced back to his best when winning a 13-furlong handicap here in May. He is back down to the same mark now and offered a bit more encouragement at Newmarket last time. He is one of several potential front runners.

Hong Kong Island has held his form well since winning twice at up to a mile and a half at Pontefract in the spring. He doesn't look to have much if anything in hand off his current mark as a result, but should give his running.

Gogeo is a lightly-raced four-year-old who got off the mark on his second Flat start when scoring in impressive style over a mile and a half at Doncaster in April. He caught the eye at Pontefract on his penultimate outing before being a beaten favourite at Newbury last time, and is one of the more interesting contenders.

Bothy won a mile maiden when trained by Ralph Beckett in 2009 and has form up to a mile-and-a-half on the Flat. He often ran well in defeat in some of the hottest handicap hurdles of last jumps season and is of plenty of interest on his return to the level, though has been off since April.

Royal Trooper is a strong traveller who posted a fifth career win over a mile and a half at Doncaster last month, but his more recent efforts strongly suggest his current mark is beyond him.

Shernando has continued his improvement in handicaps this year, coming out on top in a three-way finish at Chester last month. He is just 2 lb higher here and it wouldn't be the biggest shock to see further progress.

Euston Square hit new heights when scoring on his first try beyond nine furlongs at Ripon last month. He is 5 lb higher here and takes a step into the unknown as regards stamina.

Antigua Sunrise is a reliable mare who added a further two wins to her record last season. She found only the thriving Tenby Lady too good at York last time and should give another good account with conditions fine.

Timeform 1-2-3:
1.    Butler
2.    Bothy
3.    Easy Terms

Timeform View: A wide-open handicap that can go to the unexposed Butler. The dangers are plentiful, with improved-hurdler Bothy of major interest, along with the thriving Easy Terms, Shernando and Antigua Sunrise.

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