Verdict

Cactus Valley will be fancied to recoup Thirsk losses dropping back in distance but he's proved a little one-paced so far and only gets a pound from Doncaster winner KEEPAX. Chris Wall's gelding is almost guaranteed to run his race again and a 4lb rise for his Town Moor victory isn't excessive. Choral Festival has been in the handicapper's grip for a while, however, while course winner My Lord never threatened to take a hand in the finish at Goodwood last time and also looks a few pounds too high now. But Jewelled finished strongly on the Polytrack last month and should make a bold bid to go one better while Franco Is My Name and Scottish Star aren't without a chance along with the now-blinkered Top Billing.

Formwatch

Franco Is My Name 15-2 (9-2) Held up in touch, headway 3f out, chasing leaders over 1f out, hung left and weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 11, 6l behind Art Scholar (9-4) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Jul.

Choral Festival 12-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, under pressure over 2f out, soon lost place, 11th of 13, 18l behind Jacob Cats (9-6) at Sandown 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Jul.

Scottish Star 13-2 (10-0) Raced keenly, headway over 2f out, ridden to chase leaders over 1f out, no impression in 4th final furlong, 4th of 12, 6l behind The High Man (9-13) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jul.

Laughing Jack 15-2 (9-1) In rear, ridden over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, nearest finish, 5th of 12, 5l behind Sand Skier (9-7) at Kempton 1m 2f app hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Jun.

Jewelled 33-1 (9-9) Steadied start, held up in last pair, good headway on outside over 1f out, strong run inside final furlong, went 2nd towards finish and closed on winner, not quite get up, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Hayaku (10-0) at Lingfield 1m 2f fll hcp (0-75) (3yo+) (5) pol in Jul.

My Lord 14-1 (8-2) Slowly away, behind, plugged on inside final furlong, never on terms, 6th of 14, 13l behind Landaman (9-9) at Goodwood 1m 1f app hcp 0-90 (3) gd.

Wiggy Smith 16-1 (9-7) In touch, ridden 3f out, kept on same place final furlong, 5th of 8, 8l behind No Compromise (8-12) at Leicester 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gf.

Glass Mountain (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Mid-division, driven over 3f out, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 12th of 13, 17l behind Fire King (10-7) at Salisbury 1m am hcp 0-75 (5) fm in Jul.

Top Billing 5-2fav (9-1) Tracked leaders, led going well 3f out, ridden over 2f out, strongly pressed from 2f out, headed 1f out, weakened and lost places final 130 yards, 5th of 12, 2 3/4l behind Guarantee (9-1) at Newbury 1m 4f mdn stks (5) gs in Jul.

Keepax 9-1 (9-7) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, stayed on to lead final 50 yards, won at Doncaster 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jul beating Instrumentalist (9-4) by 1/2l, 16 ran.

Cactus Valley (IRE) 11-8fav (9-5) Held up towards rear, switched right and headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, kept on under pressure, never able to challenge, 3rd of 6, 4l behind Sequence (9-5) at Thirsk 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Jul.