Happy Birthday Mark Holton Nursery Handicap Stakes

Hope of Acklam arrives in fine fettle just 11 days after finishing third last time out, and a second two starts back underlines his consistency; top-rated here on a mark of 65, he is yet to win in recent starts but remains the most solid profile in the field.

Placed last time out and third again three starts back, Son of A Fish arrives here fit on 15 days' rest with experience of today's trip and conditions, and our rating puts him right in contention — yet the main concern is a trainer firing at just 4% in the last fortnight.

Winless in his last five starts, Dakota Brave did show a flash of promise with a third three starts back, though consecutive fourths since suggest he finds winning tough; experience over today's trip and going helps, but 63 days off the track is a query from stall 3.

Winless in his last three starts, including back-to-back sixth-place finishes, Lopefernza arrives here 20 days on from his latest effort and has run over today's trip before, though carrying 131 lb from stall four is no small ask for a horse rated 61.

Craven Force carries a rating of 67 from our assessment, suggesting he is modestly ahead of his official mark of 56, and stall two gives him a handy pitch; the concern is that he has been winless in his last three starts and returns after 132 days off.