Happy Birthday Nigel Kirby Handicap

Lightly raced for Roger Varian, winning a 7f Newbury novice as a 2yo; made a promising start for this yard when runner-up over C&D (good; tongue-tie added) in March and the drop back to 6f looked against him at Ascot last month; still looks feasibly treated on his penultimate form and he could have more to offer back up in trip.

Defied this mark at Sandown (7f, good) last August but he's lost his way since and has been well held in two big-field handicaps over 6f this season (better than result on first occasion); goes back up in trip and down in grade but he needs a revival.

Had some smart handicap form last year, placed at Royal Ascot (7f) and twice at Glorious Goodwood (including third in the Stewards' Cup); well handicapped on that form and he caught the eye with his late headway at Leicester (6f, good) when last seen in April; looks interesting back up in trip and he seems versatile ground-wise.

Multiple winner in Uruguay and was runner-up in 1m4f Group 1 (dirt) there last January; last four starts have been in the UAE and he's been well held in handicaps in last three runs; now starts out for Marco Botti and has something to prove back at 7f on his British debut.

Record of 1-15 but he often runs well in deep handicaps and has had a near-miss at Newmarket (6f, good) and a good fourth at York in his two runs this season; now steps up to 7f for the first time but he's been strong at the finish in last two runs and still looks on a workable mark; not ruled out.