Belatedly off the mark when winning a 7f novice at Sandown last time. Didn't need to improve for that success, and more required from a stiffish handicap mark.
Won both starts over 7f last year, and impressive when scoring by 3¼L from Juan Les Pins at Kempton in November. Handicapper appears to have erred on side of leniency with his opening mark, and much respected as a result.
Won a heavy-ground maiden at Haydock last year, and not disgraced in a Listed race at Deauville, but he was well beaten on his handicap bow on Polytrack at Lingfield this month.
Won a 26-runner Curragh sales race in September, but that effort a bit of a standout, and he's been well held in a G2 in Doha and a 6f handicap here this year.
Two wins on all-weather surfaces and almost made it three when just denied on reappearance at Newcastle at the beginning of the month; yet to race on turf, but a player if adapting to new surface.
Showed plenty of promise as a 2-y-o, and duly delivered on that when an impressive winner of a 7f maiden at Kempton 15 days ago. Should do better yet, and not overburdened for handicap debut.
Forecasts
Boccaccio (13/8), Raatea (5/2), Manigordo (11/2), Ayr Harbour (13/2), Stone Circle (14/1), Gifted Ruler (18/1)
BOCCACCIO has looked a smart prospect in winning both his races to date, and the handicapper looks to have let him in lightly now handicapping, so he's hard to oppose. Unexposed Kempton maiden winner Raatea is the most obvious danger on paper, although Ayr Harbour could have a big say if translating his useful AW form to this surface at the first attempt.