16:25 York

The penny really looks to have dropped for ATACAMA DESERT now and he arrives here on a hat-trick. He impressed given how keen he was to win readily at Haydock in August and backed that up in no uncertain terms up to this trip over C&D last month. He ran on well at the finish and beat an in form horse in The Predictor for Richard Fahey. The pair pulled clear from the rest and the field was well strung out. That form has already been franked too with the third Ghadbbaan winning at Ripon since and even the sixth Real Terms going in at Catterick. He is up 8lb but remains thoroughly unexposed over this trip and so gets a confident vote. Duke Of Verona showed a great attitude to prevail at Sandown and wasn’t disgraced at Newmarket last month so looks the main threat to the selection.

17:20 Alflaila

With three wins to his name already this season ALFLAILA looks a horse to keep firmly on side right now. He first caught my eye chasing home Mighty Ulysses on the July course here back in the summer. He has won twice since showing a smart turn of foot to win at Pontefract and then taking his form up another notch to win a Group 3 at York back in August. He has a nice blend of speed and stamina and still looks capable of further improvement. He had Finest Sound 2 and a quarter lengths held in second last time so should confirm that form here. I think that leaves Royal Fleet as the main danger. He has won his last two now and impressed staying on well to win a Listed race at Goodwood last month. Of the rest Ottoman Fleet only missed a neck last time and also has to be seriously considered.