MAJEED 

MAJEED is an in-out character but he bounced  back to form last time when a fine second at Royal Ascot in the Wolferton Handicap. This horse needs plenty of luck in-running and needs to be produced very late in his races. He’s relatively well handicapped and Fergus Sweeney is an eye-catching booking. At his best, this horse would have a serious chance of backing up that last effort, but I would prefer to see his odds much bigger than the current 12/1 mark for a horse who has been inconsistent this year. However, he could still go very well in a race of this nature as he’s a former Listed/group placed horse at his best.

DRAGON MALL 

DRAGON MALL really interests me here, he’s also trainer by David Simcock as the above horse is too. He’s posted some solid efforts since winning his maiden at Newmarket, including when a fine fourth behind THIKRIYAAT in a Group 3 twelve months ago. DRAGON MALL was slow away and lost ground before making good headway but suffered trouble in running at a crucial stage before staying on strongly to only be beaten around one length. That form has worked out well and he comes into today’s contest on the back of two eye-catching displays recently. He finished a tidy third at Nottingham following a break before running a remarkable race to finish ninth of 16 runners in the Wolferton Handicap at Royal Ascot. DRAGON MALL lost a huge amount of ground having walked out of the stalls and he must have been at least 30 lengths behind the leaders at that stage and didn’t look as though he was going anywhere 3f out. However, he picked up in determine fashion to reel in half of the field to be beaten just over three lengths. It was a terrific run considering what happened to him at the start and granted an even break, he surely would have gone close to winning the race. DRAGON MALL has been left on the same mark 101 and if he breaks away cleanly, then he is more than capable of going close. I just think he’s overpriced and is clearly a very talented horse.

CONCLUSION 

I could arguably make a case for most of the field, who have good enough form to make and impact in this deep handicap. However, two horses stand out for me for betting purposes. Firstly, VICTORY BOND who looks well handicapped off a mark 102 on just his second start in handicap company and seems the type to have improved this season following a pleasing seasonal debut over the 1m trip here last time when third of 17 runners and can only improve for the extra two furlongs today. Connections must think he’s a decent horse and he ran well in last year’s Group 2 Dante stakes so he has a lot of class about him. He should go well today at fair enough odds 8/1 at the time of writing. My other selection has to be DRAGON MALL at 25/1, who I think is overpriced and has put in two eye-catching efforts recently. He was the horse to take out of the Wolferton Handicap having missed the break and gave away at least 30 lengths at the start. However, he finished the race so strongly to only be beaten around three lengths and if breaking away cleaner today, there is no reason why he can’t go close to winning this race. He’s got huge value and is a horse with a lot of talent. If he broke away better last time he could have gone close to winning and definitely wouldn’t be the price he is now.