Midnite Hever Sprint Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 13:25 | Winning time: 56.37s

(6)

Diligent Harry^p²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: Rossa Ryan| T: C G Cox| OR: 109| C| D

15/8

Smart performer who landed his first pattern race last June in the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle. Below form on turf next 2 outings but showed himself as good as ever when dead-heating in 6f listed event here on return. Return to 5f unlikely to be an issue and looks sure to go well again.

Form: 35150-1

(3)

Clearpoint⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: S Hodgson| OR: 96| BF| CD

12/1

Thrived in the autumn, completing a hat-trick with a brazen display of speed in 10-runner handicap at Wolverhampton (5.1f) in November. Did a bit too much in front in a similar grade here 8 weeks later but a step up to listed company asks for more.

Form: 421112-

(5)

Democracy Dilemma^v¹⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Tom Marquand| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 106| D

10/3

Enthusiastic front runner who bounced back to form when easy winner of 5f handicap at Haydock (12/1) last September, though was seen to maximum effect and didn't have the same advantages when only third of 5 in a conditions event at Beverley later that month.

Form: 057613-

(1)

Valiant Force¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: D Egan| T: Robson Aguiar| OR: 107| D

15/8

Smart performer on all-weather who won 3 minor events at Dundalk in 2025 and made the most of a good opportunity on second start for current yard in a similar there earlier this month. Has to be taken very seriously in his bid to better his third place in this race last year (when run at Southwell).

Form: 02215-1

(4)

Golden Sickle²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: L Morris| T: G Boughey| OR: 106| D

100/1

A useful winner of 7 races in South Africa but was well held in a listed event here over 6f on recent stable debut and looks up against it once more.

Form: 01/322-7

(2)

Leovanni^t1²⁶⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: S H James| T: K R Burke| OR: 103| D

15/2

Ready winner of the Queen Mary in 2024 and shaped well when fourth in 8-runner listed race at Haydock (5f, good) on her sole outing last year. Makes all-weather debut in a first-time tongue strap following another absence but must enter the reckoning given she's evidently capable fresh.

Form: 1137/4-

Forecasts

Diligent Harry (15/8), Valiant Force (15/8), Democracy Dilemma (10/3), Leovanni (15/2), Clearpoint (12/1), Golden Sickle (100/1)

VALIANT FORCE has an excellent record in small-field events on the all-weather, so his claims appear to be the most compelling, especially having proven his wellbeing with a recent win at Dundalk. Diligent Harry showed himself to be as good as ever when dead-heating here last time and shouldn't be inconvenienced by the return to the minimum trip, with the lightly-raced Leovanni most interesting of the rest.