William Hill Handicap

Off time: 18:05 | Winning time: 3m 31.71s

(4)

Zain Nights^p⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Callum Shepherd| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 87

7/2

Winner of a Newbury handicap over 1½m last July and has subsequently made the frame in all 4 starts at around 2m. Runner-up at Kempton last time, which was his best effort of this season so far, and should looks sure to give another good account for his in-form yard.

Form: 27-3042

(5)

Aggagio²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: Rhys Clutterbuck| T: G & J Moore| OR: 86| CD

9/2

Four-time course winner who scored over hurdles during the spring before finishing second over 1¾m here on his seasonal reappearance. Stamina possibly stretched in a 20.4f handicap at the big meeting here 3 weeks ago and shouldn't be far away, particularly if the ground is on the slow side.

Form: 215-256

(2)

State Legend^p³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: D C Costello| T: Ian Williams| OR: 83

10/1

Successful 3 times at up to 1½m for James Ferguson in 2022. Opened account for present yard in decisive fashion at Sandown (1¾m, good to soft) last month and, still feasibly treated up 4 lb, he should be bang there if his stamina holds out now upped to 2m.

Form: 706261

(3)

Motazzen^p,t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Benoit D L Sayette| T: George Baker| OR: 78

7/2

French import who has yet to strike for present connections but hasn't done a great deal wrong this year, again performing well at this venue when fourth of 17 over a marathon trip at the big meeting 3 weeks ago. Likely to give another good account.

Form: 0-35234

(1)

Flower Of Dubai³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: J Mitchell| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 86

7/4

Lightly-raced filly who has improved since switched to handicaps, following narrow Wolverhampton success with creditable efforts in defeat at Haydock and Newbury (both at around 1¾m). Shapes as though trip will be within range and, armed with a handy weight-for-age allowance, she needs considering.

Form: 163124

Forecasts

Flower Of Dubai (7/4), Zain Nights (7/2), Motazzen (7/2), Aggagio (9/2), State Legend (10/1)

Very competitive, despite the small field, with all five holding pretty strong claims. Preference is for ZAIN NIGHTS, who appears to be versatile ground-wise and turned in his best effort of the season so far when finding just one too strong at Kempton last time. State Legend will be a big threat if coping with this step up in trip, while the 3-y-o filly Flower of Dubai and Aggagio and Motazzen, both of whom performed with credit at the big meeting here, can all be expected to get involved.