Phase Eight Handicap Stakes

Wild Desert was second one start back but is held back by a sixth last time out and a rating of 97 against tougher rivals; he has run over today's distance and going before, and a trainer strike-rate of 35% keeps him in the mix from stall 7.

Aqpan's trainer is firing at 42% in the past fortnight, and he has experience over today's trip, carrying 129 lb from stall 6; the main concern is a run of three consecutive poor finishes since his last win, and 70 days off the track.

We're Goosers won two of his last five starts and has experience of today's trip and going, giving him a solid platform to go well off 125 lb; a return to form after last time's unplaced effort would make him the one to beat here.

Utmost Good Faith won last time out, which catches the eye, but he ranks tenth of thirteen on our figures and his speed rating gives little confidence he can reproduce that at this level, with stall 11 and 123 lb adding to the queries.

Ghost Mode won five starts back and arrives on a 23-day turnaround with experience of today's distance and going — a strong profile that supports his second-place ranking among the 13 runners. The concern is a run of three unplaced efforts since that victory.