TimeformBlog

Shooting Line is a half-brother to three winners, notably the smart performer Fairmile. He maintained his progressive profile when winning a mile maiden at Windsor on his reappearance in June and looks a major player on his handicap debut.

Secret Love got off the mark in a seven-furlong maiden at Lingfield in September. She was better than the bare result in a really strong mile-and-a-quarter listed race at Newbury on her reappearance, though made no impact back down at this trip at Royal Ascot last time.

Wiqaaya accomplished a simple task on her reappearance over seven-furlong at Wolverhampton in March. She achieved a lot more in turf handicaps on her next two starts and a lesser effort last time may have been down to testing ground.

Muntasib signed off 2010 with wins over seven furlongs at Lingfield and this track. He hasn't looked straightforward this season, though, hanging and finding little at Newbury last time.

General Synod showed ability on both of his starts at two and was a good second in a well-contested Newbury maiden on his reappearance in April. He hasn't matched that since and has proved expensive to follow (four times a beaten favourite).

Social Forum took his form to a new level when winning a maiden at Lingfield in February, the form of which has proved strong. It's easy enough to excuse his sole defeat since and he starts out for a new yard that is in good form.

If You Whisper won a seven-furlong maiden at Southwell in December. He improved when second of four on his handicap debut when last seen at Lingfield in January, but this is a tough enough race for his return to action.

Little Black Book largely held his form in turf handicaps after winner over a mile at Southwell in April, though wasn't at his best at Newmarket earlier in the month. He can probably be excused that run and his overall record is positive ahead of his polytrack debut.

Orange Ace is a useful-looking colt who struck at the second time of asking in a seven-furlong maiden here in November. He has never travelled on either start on turf this year and will likely appreciate the return to this track.

Taqaat shrugged off his rivals to make all in a seven-and-a-half furlong maiden at Beverley in May when still trained by Mark Johnston. He has been below form in handicaps the last twice, markedly so when making his debut for this yard last time.

Trumpington Street didn't need to improve when getting off the mark at Wolverhampton in July. He shaped as if still in form over a mile and a quarter at Newmarket last time and is far from out of this back down at a mile.

Switchback better all his previous efforts by some way when a head second to Queen of Cash in a course-and-distance handicap last time. He went down fighting that day and has every chance of going one better.

Point du Jour got off the mark at the seventeenth time of asking when winning a course-and-distance handicap earlier in the month. He is now taking on a better class of rival and isn't an obvious follow-up candidate.

Timeform 1-2-3:
1.    Switchback
2.    Shooting Line
3.    Little Black Book

Timeform View: Switchback and Shooting Line appeal as the pair to fight out the finish, with marginal preference for the former in receipt of a stone. Little Black Book had a valid excuse last time and should also be in the mix if taking to polytrack.

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