John Charles Heal Memorial Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Ordinary form on the AW during the winter but he is 5lb lower than when winning over C&D (good to firm) last August and likely to find conditions similar; highly respected.

0-9 for Andre Fabre, though finished runner-up on four occasions over 7f-9.5f; changed hands for 40,000gns in October and makes his debut for his new yard after six months off having been gelded since last seen; unraced on ground faster than good to soft; market informative.

Easily justified odds of 1-6 in a five-runner maiden at Lingfield (1m4f, AW) last September and the next three home all won their next starts; disappointed badly on handicap debut at Newmarket (1m4f, soft) later in month and not seen since, but no surprise if he bounced back on this quicker ground.

Improved steadily throughout last year, especially after joining this yard with wins over 1m2f here (soft) and at Sandown (good) in the autumn; one for the shortlist if returning in the same form after six months off.

Won his first start on the Flat when bolting up from the front in an amateur riders' event at Newbury (1m4f, heavy) last October; now 7lb higher, but he was successful on good ground over hurdles nine days ago; high on the list.