Spotlight

Has done nothing but progress since the visor went on, winning five of his last eight starts (including C&D) and going up 31lb in the weights; off for eight months since winning at Goodwood in September and will need another career-best off this mark.

Comment

Done nothing but progress in the visor; needs another career-best off this mark on return

Stable Tour

"He's a real favourite, a popular little horse who's been progressing through the ranks - he has won four of his last six starts and been second on the other two occasions. He might go to York on Friday - the owners have never had a winner there and they'd like to try with him while he's on an upward curve. He's done most of his running and winning on the all-weather but he was really impressive at Doncaster last time, so there might still be a bit more in him. He keeps surprising us and is a lovely horse to have. 23-07-25"

Medical History

Spotlight

Won her first two starts in handicaps last summer and had excuses off her revised mark latterly; a surprise maiden win on comeback last spring gives hope as she returns from eight months off and she remains low mileage.

Comment

Won her first two starts in handicaps last summer and had excuses latterly; considered

Quotes

Spotlight

Started favourite on his first nine starts last year, winning two of them, both off lower marks; hit traffic over an inadequate 5f on his comeback a few weeks ago, which will ensure he's popular once again for a yard also responsible for Cairdeas.

Comment

Hit traffic over an inadequate 5f on his comeback and will rightly be popular once more

Stable Tour

"He's always looked like he'll stay further and he does get 7f, but he's a bit keen and you have to be able to switch him off within the first 100 yards and they don't go fast enough over 7f. Over 6f he can relax and his stamina kicks in during the last furlong. He relies on other horses setting the race up for him and it worked out perfectly for him at Pontefract last week - he settled, got there and did what he had to do. He's still potentially well handicapped. 14-08-25"

Medical History

Spotlight

String of solid efforts for Ethan Tindall, including two wins, in the past nine months; on a career-high mark, having been nudged up another 2lb, but there was nothing wrong with his comeback effort at Pontefract early last month (5f); has to be considered.

Comment

String of solid efforts for Ethan Tindall in the past nine months; has to be considered

Spotlight

Four wins have come on good to soft/soft ground later in the year and he wants a good test over this trip on good ground; turned in a solid comeback effort over C&D in March but there's little room for error off this mark and he has his quirks.

Comment

Four wins have come on good to soft/soft ground later in the year; high in the weights

Quotes

Spotlight

Wins for Andrew Balding came on Polytrack, latterly off this mark over 1m last summer; a slow start did for him down to 5f last time and, while he doesn't always look the easiest and can lug left, he's capable if things fall his way.

Comment

Slow start did for him down to 5f last time; not easy but capable if things fall his way

Spotlight

Proven winner who found another burst of improvement for cheekpieces going on last autumn; generally kept to 5f and no headgear as he returns from six months off; also has to prove this sort of mark is within range.

Comment

Generally been kept to 5f and has no headgear on as he returns from six months off

Quotes

Spotlight

C&D winner two years ago who tends to stick to the AW these days; back up in the weights following a hat-trick in the winter and needs to bounce back from a lesser effort when last seen five weeks ago.

Comment

Tends to stick to the AW now; back up in the weights following a hat-trick in the winter

Spotlight

Maiden who was picked up for 12,000gns after a fair effort in a heavy-ground Irish handicap (7f) last autumn; no surprise were he to need this after seven months off and would want to see some market interest before adding him into the mix.

Comment

Ex-Irish; no surprise were he to need this after seven months off; watch the market

Spotlight

Handicapper hit him hard after he made it 2-2 at Leicester off 7lb lower last month and he's struggled in two runs since; hit and miss now and, while it's possible he'll bounce back, others have more pressing claims.

Comment

Hit and miss these days; possible he'll bounce back but others have more pressing claims

Stable Tour

"He has been a busy lad this season with 14 runs and two wins. On his latest start at Ayr they virtually trotted to the three-furlong marker before sprinting. He wasn't best positioned for that but he came home well to win and has gone up only 2lb for it, which I thought was fair. I'm hopeful he can add to his successes again this season [ran at Musselburgh on Tuesday night after the Weekender went to press]. 30-08-23"

Quotes

Spotlight

Regressed for William Haggas before sold last summer; the handicapper is easing off so he should be easy enough to place in due course but he's done a lot of his racing over 7f and now returns from an absence; Novello Lad looks his trainer's best shout.

Comment

Done a lot of his racing over 7f and Novello Lad looks his trainer's best shout

Stable Tour

"We bought him from William Haggas and I haven't had him long, but he jumped and travelled well over 7f at York and probably didn't quite get home. He'll be coming back to 6f and I expect him to mature into a better horse than he is at the moment. 14-08-25"

Spotlight

Long time since he won on turf and isn't as good now but remains consistent; returns from three months off but he can go well fresh; down to a career-low mark but he'd have preferred plenty of rain.

Comment

Can go well fresh and is down to a career-low mark but he'd have preferred plenty of rain

Quotes