Verdict

An intriguing sprint handicap where the draw may have a big effect; with rain forecast we will side with HAND PAINTED who is drawn in stall four. When the going is testing, often the best ground is found on the far side and a low draw is seen as an advantage. The selection has been in good form this season and only went down to a well-handicapped individual last time out at Warwick. He has a bit to prove on the ground if it does come up soft, but he looks like he'll handle it and he should run well off this mark of 73. Perfect Pride was successful when last seen at Goodwood in June, and Clive Cox's filly should still be competitive off this 4lb loftier perch, Ray Of Joy has shaped well on softish ground before and ran well at Kempton last time, whilst Cut The Cackle already has two wins to her name but is yet to prove that she stays this trip fully. Miss Hollybell is a course and distance winner, as is Imperial Guest although he isn't in fantastic form at present. Ben's Dream was the horse that beat the selection last time and he is an obvious danger despite a 5lb rise in the weights, whilst Anacreon is capable of better as he returns from a break. Richard Hughes is an interesting booking for David Evans on Doc Jones as the horse drops in trip, but in what looks a fascinating sprint we will go with Hand Painted.

Formwatch

Perfect Pride (USA) 11-1 (9-5) Switched right start, held up, ridden over 2f out, driven, headway and squeezed through over 1f out, led inside final furlong, driven out, won at Goodwood 6f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Jun beating Fantastic Dubai (8-13) by nk, 7 ran.

Imperial Guest 40-1 (8-4) Mid-division, ridden over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 6th of 19, 2 1/4l behind Total Gallery (9-7) at Newmarket 6f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gd.

Ray of Joy 16-1 (9-4) Went right start, tracked leader until ridden and weakened well inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Mac's Power (8-5) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jun.

Cut The Cackle (IRE) 4-1 (9-7) Took keen hold, chased leaders over 3f, 6th of 7, 4 1/2l behind Perfect Pride (9-5) at Goodwood 6f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Jun.

Olynard (IRE) 6-1 (9-7) Off the pace in mid-division, driven along and edging left when stumbled badly inside final 2f, edged left inside final furlong, ran on, finished well but no chance with winner, 3rd of 10, 4l behind Blue Jack (9-9) at Windsor 5f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.

Lovely Thought 20-1 (8-6) last of 15, 25l behind Greenisland (8-13) at Newmarket 7f 3yo fll hcp 0-100 (2) gd.

Evelyn May (IRE) 4-1 (9-7) In touch on outer, headway to track leading pair 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, not quite pace to challenge, 3rd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Hi Shinko (9-0) at Folkestone 5f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jun.

Hand Painted 5-1 (9-1) Hampered start, behind, headway 2f out, soon ridden, challenged entering final furlong, not quicken towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Ben's Dream (8-5) at Warwick 6f hcp 0-80 (4) gd.

Miss Hollybell 17-2 (9-2) Fly jumped leaving stalls, towards rear, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong, 5th of 10, 2 1/2l behind Ben's Dream (8-5) at Warwick 6f hcp 0-80 (4) gd.

Doc Jones (IRE) 11-1 (9-3) Raced wide, chased leaders, ridden every chance from over 1f out, kept on, unable to quicken inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 2 1/4l behind Athania (8-8) at Chester 1m 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) gf.

Anacreon (IRE) 66-1 (9-3) Led, ridden and headed 3f out, weakening when hampered 2f out, 17th of 18, 47l behind Nehaam (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo aut stk (2) gf in Apr.

Ben's Dream (IRE) 11-2 (8-5) Always prominent, ridden to lead narrowly just over 1f out, ran on, won at Warwick 6f hcp 0-80 (4) gd beating Hand Painted (9-1) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.