'We hope there's a big handicap in him before stepping up to better things'

Weatherbys Bloodstock Pro Handicap (Class 2) | 4yo+ | 6f | (ITV4/RTV)

Four-year-olds have had the edge in recent runnings of the Weatherbys Bloodstock Pro Handicap and three such runners are well represented at the top of the betting.

The eye is naturally drawn to the Roger Teal-trained Chipstead, a brother to the yard’s dual Group 1 winner Oxted. He has yet to be gelded, whereas Oxted was before he made his debut.

It would be ambitious to suggest Chipstead will scale the same heights as Oxted and can be deemed a future stallion prospect. However, considering the improvement his sibling made at four, hopes will be high he can progress again after he ended his three-year-old season in great style with a Bath hat-trick. There should be more to come.

Kevin Ryan fits cheekpieces on another of the leading contenders, Bergerac, although confidence is dampened by the trainer’s 1-21 record when applying the aid for the first time.

He meets Popmaster on 8lb better terms for a length-and-a-quarter defeat at Doncaster last July and makes marginally more appeal than Ed Walker's four-year-old with race fitness on his side.

Of the more exposed sprinters, the Michael Dods-trained Gale Force Maya deserves to be on the shortlist as her record after breaks of 83 days or more reads 4231 and she has twice won first time out.

Gale Force Maya has already shown her liking for the Rowley MileCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

She also thrives over this course and distance, registering her two best performances on Racing Post Ratings here. She was just denied a hat-trick in a Listed contest at the end of a long, hard season in October and there may be a little more improvement in the offing for a trainer who is a dab hand with sprinters.

Ostilio brings Group 2-winning form to the table, but that was three and a half years ago and he has disappointed in three starts for Phil McEntee after leaving Archie Watson.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

What they say

Ed Walker, trainer of Popmaster
He's in cracking form. He had an entry in the Abernant as well and his work has been good so we hope there's a big handicap in him before stepping up to better things. He's an exciting horse.

Michael Dods, trainer of Gale Force Maya
She's done well over the winter but I think she'll definitely benefit for a run. She's on her highest mark at 98 and so she'll need to up her game a bit this year as we'll be looking at a few fillies' and mares' Listed races.

Roger Teal, trainer of Chipstead
Physically and mentally he's come forward. He's fit enough to do himself justice but hopefully he'll improve for the run. Trevor Whelan rode him work last week and was very happy with him. It took a long time for the penny to drop but when it did, he finished last year off very strongly.

Karl Burke, trainer of Boogie Time
He's wintered well and we hope he can continue on an upward curve, he certainly finished last season that way. Whatever he does here he'll improve on but he's working nicely.
Reporting by Scott Burton

Tuesday's race previews:

2.25 Newmarket: will New Science get powerful Classic generation off to perfect start?

3.00 Newmarket: this could be Godolphin's forgotten horse – and here's why you should take note

3.35 Newmarket: Hello You and Cachet clash again as 1,000 Guineas claims are put on the line

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