Schweppes Cherry Pepper Handicap

His connections landed this race last year, and L’Eagle Aid has solid course and distance form on a sound surface; returning after 50 days off, he ran to form here last time though the handicapper may have his measure, with our figures placing him fourth in the field.

Landing a handicap by 4½ lengths at Salisbury last time off a mark 6lb below today’s, Taritino came through with authority and handles any ground at this trip; a weight rise was inevitable after a performance that emphatic, but he may still have more to offer.

A 2¼-length winner at Goodwood off a 3lb lower mark two starts back, Oman returns in first-time cheekpieces having slipped below that level most recently; he handles this trip and going well and is in decent form overall, though 3lb higher than his winning mark today.

Third beaten 3 lengths off this exact mark at York last time, Triple Force is consistent on a sound surface and tends to make the running; first-time cheekpieces are added today, but he remains 4lb above his last winning mark, making the principals difficult to beat.

Beaten a length off this mark last time, Percy Jones showed a marginal improvement on his recent form and handles any ground at this trip; first-time cheekpieces are added, though he needs to find considerably more after a difficult mid-season patch.