One horse is worth a closer look after disappointing last time out when favourite - Tavener. This March foal has been fancied on both starts to date but floundered quite badly. I'm pretty sure Phantom House Stables hold this son of Exceed And Excel in some regard. And considering this bay colt was purchased at Tattersalls' Craven Breeze-Up Sales 2014 for 70,000gns, he's proven ring-rusty and inexperienced. Most juveniles which go through this sales route are forward and ready to race, so connections must be frustrated by those formative outings.
A slow start at Lingfield created a problem, but inexperience compounded that issue, being niggled along, then slightly short of room, turning into the straight any semblance of hope had been extinguished to the point Graham Gibbons eased down to finish second from last.
There was good reason to expect a big run that day from Clive Washbourn's horse and a more professional race will be expected today. El Che was ahead of William Jarvis' colt on that occasion, after making a bold bid from the front and she likely to do the same. It could well be the case that Tavener would be better suited by an extra furlong - if only to give more time to find his stride.
At the odds, I would have to take a watching brief because there isn't too much meat on the bone. However, if this three-year-old has finally got his act together he could quite easily win in style.