Can Mezzo Soprano find the winning note following an eyecatching course-and-distance performance last time?

There can be little doubt this course and distance suits Mezzo Soprano because not only is she a winner here, she also finished an eyecatching third over the trip and track two weeks ago. She was hampered at the start that night, but produced a power-packed finish.

She will have knocked plenty of eyes out there and the booking of champion jockey William Buick won’t help if you’re looking for a price. She might prove a class apart, but the Crisford yard is hardly flying and Buick has had 124 rides for them, so his booking isn’t unusual.

There are also plenty of other big yards represented and Andrew Balding saddles Upscale, who is another course-and-distance winner who caught the eye on her last visit to the track. Upscale produced a career-best Racing Post Rating when second behind a lightly raced handicap debutante on that occasion and the fifth has franked the form by winning since.

Asimov and Chalk Mountain are the last-time-out winners but there hasn’t been a single subsequent scorer emerge from the race that Asimov landed at Newcastle 29 days ago.

So maybe the four-timer-seeking Chalk Mountain will be the best of the pair under a 5lb penalty for his course-and-distance win a week ago, which puts him on a career-high mark.

Don't dismiss the chance of Supreme King. He has been staying on strongly over shorter trips on turf recently and might be worth chancing now that he is up a furlong and returning to the all-weather. One of his two career victories was achieved at this course.
Analysis by Graeme Rodway

Going update

It is standard to slow at the all-weather track. The forecast is for a mixture of sunny and cloudy spells on raceday, reaching maximum temperatures of 15C.

What they say

Tom Clover, trainer of Aljari
He's shaping up well. He doesn't owe us too much, but if he finds his best form again then he should go close.

Stuart Kittow, trainer of Chalk Mountain
He took his last race really well. He just seems to travel so much better on the all-weather. The handicapper has had his say by putting him up 5lb so we're going up in grade.

James Owen, trainer of Hat Toss
He seems to be well. He's been consistent and he likes to run fresh.

Mick Appleby, trainer of Tyke
He's in good order and should run well. He's had a bit of a break since his last run in June, but he seems to be in good form. We know he goes well fresh too on his previous form.
Reporting by Matt Rennie

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