Winter Festival Early Bird Ticket Claiming Race

Eighteenth Smiles won last time out and has run over today's trip and going, arriving here fresh after 22 days; a third two starts back and a third three starts back add substance to his claims, and drawn in stall three at 138 lb, he is the one to beat.

Shesthedevil won four starts back and returns on a snappy 16-day turnaround having experience of both today's trip and going, with a speed rating of 75 lending solid support to her claims — the risk is that her last three runs have all been fifth or worse.

Winless in his last two starts, including a sixth two runs back and a seventh most recently, Tio Joao faces a stiff ask returning just three days later, though he has run over today's trip and going before and carries 138 lb from stall five.

Cloughleagh Bridge has run over today's trip and going and, drawn in stall seven carrying 134 lb, she arrives on a quick turnaround of just 13 days, suggesting connections are keen; the concern is that she has been winless in her last five starts, with a fourth the best she has managed recently.

Winless in her last three starts, Honey Deuce nonetheless rates considerably higher than her official mark suggests and has run over today's trip and conditions before, making her a live threat from stall two; the risk is that her recent finishes have been deeply disappointing.