Well regarded and one-time 'possible Derby horse' given 'a fine opportunity' on his handicap debut

At 4-1 the field, this is a pretty open handicap according to the layers. Half the runners come here off the back of victories, but that doesn’t include the favourite Harper’s Ferry, who we haven’t seen since he finished eighth in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Harper’s Ferry was the bottom of the pile on ratings that day so it wasn’t a bad run, but 83 days is a big enough absence and he’s not been straightforward having refused to enter the stalls at Chester in May. A gelding operation will need to have worked.

Blake comes out best on Racing Post Ratings after recording a personal best on the figures when winning at Sandown in July, but that was nearly 70 days ago and two with more recent form are Promethean and Fox Legacy.

Sir Michael Stoute has booked Ryan Moore for Fox Legacy, and he was aboard for the colt’s 12-length success at Salisbury last month. The handicapper has since had his say, pushing him up 16lb for that victory.

Promethean has yet to win, but he was an eyecatching second when staying on strongly to go down by a short head to Great Chieftain at Newmarket last month. On one line of form through the winner, there’s little between him and Blake, and Promethean should be scoring soon.

One horse perhaps a bit overpriced in the betting is Golden West. He was well beaten behind T’Challa at Newbury last time, but that was off the back of a gelding operation and a 77-day break. Last season he’d defeated another race rival, Victorious Street, before being highly tried in Group 3s in the spring.

Golden West is now 4lb below his initial mark, yet the bookies make him the outsider of the field. That’s not right.
Race analysis by James Hill

What they say

Hugo Palmer, trainer of Grey Cuban
He’s had a great year and as a result isn’t as well handicapped as some in the field but we felt he didn’t quite stay at York last time which is why we are down in trip.

Thady Gosden, joint-trainer of Theory Of Tides
He should appreciate dropping down in trip and we expect the track to play to his strengths.

Ed Walker, trainer of Harper's Ferry
This is a fine opportunity to get back on track as he missed Ascot last Saturday to wait for this. He can be hard work so I'm delighted that PJ McDonald will be back on board – he's a strong and capable jockey who's done well for me in the past and rode him on his debut. I hope Harper’s Ferry’s behavioural issues are behind him, now that he's been gelded, and that he can start to confirm the early promise that had us thinking him a possible Derby horse in the spring.

Simon Crisford, joint-trainer of Victorious Street
We expect the step up in trip to suit him as well as the track and he seems to be progressing with this racing. We expect him to give another good account in a competitive race.

Oisin Murphy, rider of T'Challa
He won well at Newbury and his work before and since has been good. I hope he'll be competitive off his new rating.

Peter Chapple-Hyam, trainer of Blake
He’s been in good form at home since his most recent win at Sandown, but has missed a couple of engagements since due to quick ground, so hopefully the ground is what they say it is as he prefers some give.
Reporting by David Milnes

Read the rest of our Thursday previews:

2.25 Doncaster: 'We have the right man on board' - expert analysis and trainers' views for wide-open juvenile event

3.00 Doncaster: 'She could be a very good filly' - can Desert Flower extend her unbeaten run to three in the May Hill?

3.35 Doncaster: 'If she runs, she's in the form of her life' - but ground may leave last year's winner Sumo Sam vulnerable in open Park Hill