T - Hugo Palmer
J - Dylan Hogan
Penalised for Listed success on the all-weather at Kempton back in March, he has a much better record on the artificial surface and will need to resume improvement from earlier this year.
Last two starts have been poor attempts on the turf, firstly at York in the Yorkshire Cup well behind Stradivarius, and a failed venture to America for the Belmont Gold Cup.
That was first attempt over two-miles, but yet to race beyond 1m4f on all-weather.
Upgrade required.
T - Mark Johnston
J - Desperately disappointing at York last time when reducing practically to a walk in a Listed race over 1m6f on easy going.
Mysterious given he bolted up over the same conditions in the Queen's Cup Stakes at Musselburgh over the same distance back in April, and finished a decent third to De Ex Bee in the Sagaro Stakes at Sundown.
Mekong was second that day, and the pair really suffered on the Knavesmire.
They do often bounce back from this yard, but very high stall to side with.
T - Saeed bin Suroor
J - Thomas Greatrex
Saeed bin Suroor does not usually get given the best Godolphin horses these days, but Red Galileo ran out a decent winner in a first-time hood at Newmarket last time out.
That was a 1m6f handicap where he got the better of Speedo Boy, and the 5lb rise looks lenient for his efforts.
Usually on the premises including a hat-trick of seconds at Meydan earlier this year, and should be amongst the mix.
T - Mark Johnston
J - Ben Curtis
Mark Johnston's four-year-old dominated the Chester Cup over 2m2f in the mud back in May, but has displayed two lesser shows since then.
Not as much as a miracle needed, but perhaps these slower conditions might suit, after finishing last but one on good-to-soft ground at York last time which saw plenty of horses finish legless.
Work to do.
T - David Elsworth
J - Joshua Bryan
Big revival needed running in his first handicap in more than two years, and has showed little in Class One level in his two starts in 2019.
Both appearances have been at York finished fifth in both and never troubling the winners letalone the early leaders, and does have a big mark to contend with.
That, along with the widest draw of all.
T - Roger Varian
J - Andrea Atzeni
Massive gamble continues, beginning the week at 20/1 in some places and now no bigger than 4/1.
Highly progressive when last seen which was over 700 days ago, but did win emphatically at Kempton on the polytrack.
Owner Paul Smith has alerted the media that the six-year-old has been working eyecatchingly well at home, so interesting to see if he can convert that back to the racecourse.
T - Tom Dascombe
J - Jane Elliott
Decent player for Tom Dascombe, who finished a good third to two of these on latest start at Newmarket [Red Galileo, Speedo Boy], and responded well to pressure.
The four-year-old now tries further and two-miles for the first time on his maiden trip on the all-weather.
No win in last eighteen months needs correcting, and great place to end that unwanted record.
T - Willie Mullins
J - Leigh Roche
Previous three appearances have been over hurdles, including winning at Ballinrobe at short odds comfortably.
Last three flat attempts have seen him finish outside the top ten but does have excuses, including in the Ebor at York when he was sent off a strong favourite, and getting no sort of run at all.
Won well at Newbury last July and should be a strong player bringing with him winning form.
Trained by a master.
T - Mark Johnston
J - PJ McDonald
Arguably Mark Johnston's best chance of success, with his unbeaten five-year-old King's Advice.
Six from six since moving from Germany, King's Advice has form on the turf and more importantly on the all-weather, winning a hat-trick of races on the artificial surface on his first three starts for Johnston.
Much more competitive race but does make plenty of appeal.
In the firing line and can continue great progression.
T - Alan King
J - Tom Marquand
Chopping and changing between hurdles and the flat, but three most recent appearances on the latter should set him up nicely for this.
Has been amongst the finish in plenty of top handicaps, including when second to Making Miracles in the Chester Cup and third to Coeur Blimey at Newbury.
Won't mind a slower surface, and no surprise to see him bolt in here.
T - John Ryan
J - Brett Doyle
Certainly lost his way in the past few months, after recording a hat-trick of all-weather wins in and around this distance over the winter.
The spark appears to have disappeared since March where the 10b rise really has seen the handicapper take control - almost too much.
New headgear fitted to try and rejuvenate, but the talent is there somewhere.
T - Karen McLintock
J - Luke Morris
Another individual arriving off the back of a long absence, Dubawi Fifty was last seen finishing an excellent second in last year's Ascot Stakes to Lagostovegcas.
Was sent away from the yard to fix a few injury problems and has come back ready to fire again, looking to use his previous track form to his advantage.
Placed in plenty of top handicaps over the marathon distance, and just a shame connections could not get a run into first.
T - David Bridgwater
J - Stevie Donohoe
Returned from a 500+ day break this season, but yet to beat a rival in two small fields at Chelmsford and Leicester.
Has some great form to his name back in 2017 but looks hard to unlock at the minute, with test currently looking too much on paper.
Hard to fancy.
T - Nick Littmoden
J - Graham Lee
Big career best required in this Heritage Handicap, but not exposed over two-miles just yet.
Multiple efforts this term on the turf and the all-weather, winning as many as five of six over the late Autumn and winter - four of which on the artificial surface.
Those efforts were over a 1m4f, and could probably do with a break at some stage.
T - Ian Williams
J - Paul Hanagan
Owned by Cheshire specialist Dr Marwan Koukash, this six-year-old was actually pulled up at Chester in the Cup last time out in complete underfoot conditions and clearly was not his day.
Won impressively at Newmarket earlier in the season, and a return to that effort would see him in contention.
Has all-weather form at this venue in the past, and definitely one to keep an eye on in the market.
T - Charles Hills
J - Kieran Shoemark
In good nick, winning a useful 1m4f handicap at this track back in April over subsequent Royal Ascot winner Baghdad.
Trainer has bounced back from disappointments to Battaash and Phoenix Of Spain at Ascot with four winners on the boards, and the jockey is not bad at the minute either.
Brings strong form angle, and has Group One entries to be excited about in the future [inc. Goodwood Cup].
T - Gay Kelleway
J - Daniel Muscutt
Won the consolation race earlier in the card last season, and gets a crack in the Plate itself this year.
Despite getting a place, he does have work to do following his most recent display at the royal meeting in the Ascot Stakes, but this should be slightly less hot.
Good form prior including on the all-weather, and just 2lb higher than last year's winning mark over this course and distance.
T - Ian Williams
J - Clifford Lee
The first of two well handicapped horses for trainer Ian Williams, Speedo Boy was back in the best of his form when finishing a close second to Red Galileo at Newmarket.
Used to big fields, and has excellent form stacked in the book on the flat and the all-weather, including finishing third to the impressive Champ at Newbury in December.
The second from that race [Le Musee] bolted up over fences just this week, and unsurprising to see his mark rise following this race.
T - Ian Williams
J - Kerrin McEvoy
Whilst you are taking your time to study, this five-year-old surged back to form when third at Royal Ascot in the marathon contest on the opening day, and can better his sixth in this race last year.
That effort was off a stone higher which surely puts him into contention this time around, under one of the world's great jockeys Kerrin McEvoy.
Big player and definite value in the each way market.
