Pertemps Network Conditions Stakes

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 1m 12.1s

(2)

Tommy Taylor²¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 107| D

7/2

Listed-race winner at York in September before finding the company too hot in a Group 3 contest at Ascot on his final start of last season. No easy task conceding weight all round on his seasonal reappearance, but may improve as a four-year-old.

Form: 320717-

(4)

Intisaab^p⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: M Harley| T: D O'Meara| OR: 108| D

11/4

Just in front of Tommy Taylor when sixth at Ascot in September and is 4lb better off. Has run plenty of times since, including when winning a valuable prize in Qatar in February. Battle-hardened and likely to go close.

Form: 421-444

(6)

Mythmaker⁹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: G Lee| T: B Smart| OR: 102| CD

10/3

Last year's winner whose latest success came on the AW at Kempton in January. Has a little bit to find on official ratings, but likes top of the ground and has a chance over a C&D which clearly suits.

Form: 2723-18

(1)

Secretinthepark⁶⁷²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: Liam Jones| T: M Mullineaux| OR: 85| D

40/1

Useful at his best when trained by Ed McMahon and Robert Cowell, but has not been sighted since July, 2016, and starts out for a new trainer. Can only be watched after so long on the sidelines.

Form: 010700/

(3)

Dancing Star³²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 102| D

15/8

Capable mare who has won five of her 12 starts on turf. Outclassed in Royal Ascot's Diamond Jubilee Stakes on last start of 2017 and may need this run after her long absence. Worth a market check, though.

Form: 119/020-

Non-Runners

(5)

Mobsta¹⁴

Weight: 9-5| Age: 6

T: M R Channon J: James Doyle

Forecasts

Dancing Star (15/8), Intisaab (11/4), Mythmaker (10/3), Tommy Taylor (7/2), Mobsta (16/1), Secretinthepark (40/1)

Dancing Star was highly tried on her last start of 2017 and will find this much easier, but she may need the run so this could develop into a match between Tommy Taylor and INTISAAB. The latter holds his rival on Ascot running in the autumn and gets a narrow vote. Mythmaker is not out of it as he chases a repeat of last year's success, but Mosbta has plenty to find on these terms.