Walter Nightingall Conditions Stakes

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 2m 11.62s

(2)

Sovereign Debt⁷³

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 107| C

10/3

Ran creditably over shorter here in June, and built on that to land a listed race at York last time. Usually races at 7f/1m, but does stay this far, and handles any ground on turf. Respected.

Form: 44-6741

(6)

Dolphin Vista¹⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Josephine Gordon| T: R M Beckett| OR: 101| DWS

9/1

Produced a career best at odds of 50/1 in last year's Cambridgeshire. Hasn't seen much racing since, tailed off in the Lincoln when last seen. Starts out for a new yard and has first start since a wind operation. Others preferred.

Form: 59615-0

(1)

Gabrial¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-2| J: D Nolan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 106

7/2

Hard to win with, but plenty of solid runs in defeat in recent times, and ahead of Sovereign Debt at Epsom in June. Not at best last time, but capable of going close for all he remains opposable for win purposes.

Form: 432036

(4)

Mistiroc^v⁴⁰⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: P Cosgrave| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 99| D

10/1

Produced a career best when third in John Smith's Cup at York last year, but possibly flattered by way that race was run, and has plenty on his plate against these rivals after a long absence.

Form: 642393-

(3)

Connect^h¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 105| CD

6/5

Both juvenile wins came with plenty of cut, and landed a C&D handicap in June, so probably best to ignore a flop in France last time, and he's one to take seriously given conditions.

Form: 61-7017

Non-Runners

(5)

Willie John²³

Weight: 8-9| Age: 3

T: R Varian J: Andrea Atzeni

Forecasts

Connect (6/5), Willie John (6/4), Sovereign Debt (10/3), Gabrial (7/2), Dolphin Vista (9/1), Mistiroc (10/1)

WILLIE JOHN cost current connections a small fortune, and this Champion Stakes entry can maintain his unbeaten record provided he handles the conditions. Connect revels in the mud and is a C&D handicap winner, so makes most appeal of the others, ahead of Sovereign Debt and Gabrial.