Red Icon is our idea of the winner of the finale. Smooth As Silk and Astania are two of the potential dangers. This is potentially trappy with a number of unexposed runners in the field but our selection is on an attractive mark for her handicap bow and looks sure to be there or thereabouts. She has caught the eye on all three of her runs in maidens and is expected to improve as she steps up in trip on her handicap bow. Similar comments apply to Smooth As Silk and Charles Egerton's filly is respected. She found plenty of trouble in running at Salisbury last time but saw out her race well and wasn't beaten far. She's bred to be better than this and is a half-sister to Humungous who did well for the yard. Last but by no means least of our short-list of handicap debutantes is Astania for whom the booking of Alan Munro takes the eye. She finished upsides some fair sorts on two of her three starts last year and is bred to come into her own over a trip this season and it's interesting that connections have opted to come here rather than take up an entry in a maiden on Thursday. There are others with claims as one would expect but we like the look of those three and expect Red Icon to come up trumps.
Cape Velvet (IRE) 3-1fav (9-4) Towards rear, headway 3f out, stayed on 1f out, not trouble leading pair, 3rd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Millfield (9-4) at Brighton 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Apr.
Aphrodisia 6-1 (9-0) In touch, smooth headway on bit on outside over 2f out, led over 1f out, hard ridden final furlong, headed and not pace of winner final 100 yards, 2nd of 16, 1l behind Davenport (9-4) at Goodwood 1m 1f hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
Paradise Dancer (IRE) 11-2 (9-2) Led for 1f, tracked leader to over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 4, 16l behind Kavachi (9-3) at Folkestone 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gs.
Red Icon 25-1 (8-9) Held up towards rear, pushed along on inside and stayed on steadily final 2f, not reach leaders, 6th of 16, 8l behind Kelowna (8-9) at Goodwood 1m mdn stk (5) gd.
Astania 50-1 (9-0) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, chased leaders approaching final furlong, under pressure and no extra close home, 4th of 10, 1l behind La Rosa Nostra (9-0) at Nottingham 1m 2yo mdn fll (5) gf in Oct.
Snowdrop Princess 6-1 (8-4) Slowly into stride, held up rear, headway on inside to chase leaders 2f out, quickened to lead inside final furlong, soon clear, ridden out, won at Kempton 1m mdn stk (5) pol in Feb beating Trimaran (8-4) by 2l, 6 ran.
Lady Zabeen (IRE) 11-2 (9-0) Held up towards rear, pushed along 2f out, no real progress, 6th of 9, 10l behind Honky Tonk Sally (9-0) at Chester 7f 2yo mdn fll (5) gd in Sept.
Zaskar 5-1 (8-13) Raced centre, steadied start, held up in rear, switched left over 2f out, headway over 1f out, ridden and stayed on to lead final strides, won at Yarmouth 1m 2yo hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Oct beating Bavarian Nordic (9-6) by a nk, 15 ran.
Lunar River (FR) 9-1 (8-6) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 9, 15l behind Karmest (8-7) at Beverley 1m 2f fll hcp (5) gs in Apr.
Lady Sorcerer 11-1 (8-5) Prominent, driven along and edged right final 2f, weakened, 6th of 10, 5l behind Mekong Melody (8-9) at Goodwood 1m 3yo fll hcp 0-100 (4) gd.
Politeia (USA) 18-1 (9-0) Always towards rear, 9th of 18, 12l behind Joffe's Run (9-0) at Salisbury 7f 2yo mdn fll (2) gf in Sept.
Smooth As Silk (IRE) 10-1 (8-9) Hampered over 5f out, chased leaders, ridden and switched left 2f out, stayed on same pace, 5th of 10, 3l behind Divine Power (8-9) at Salisbury 6f mdn stk (5) gd.
Tinnarinka 9-2fav (9-2) Chased leaders, ridden when not much room over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 16, 9l behind Davenport (9-4) at Goodwood 1m 1f hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
Dream Sea 8-1 (9-1) Mid-division, headway 5f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 11, 15l behind Reclamation (8-13) at W'hampton 1m 1f 3yo fll hcp 0-100 (5) pol.
Moon Crystal 7-4fav (9-3) Held up mid-division, chased leaders 3f out, effort over 1f out, not quicken, one pace final furlong, 4th of 11, 4l behind Uig (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 2f fll hcp (5) pol.
