S3-1

14. BRIONI

Trainer: Alan King

An outside draw in barrier 13 of 14 is no help to Vincent Ho and BRIONI who is having his first run since a gelding operation.

He made a promising start towards the end of his juvenile season when third in a Sandown novice, outrunning his market expectations. He duly stepped up on that in November when beaten in a photo on the all-weather at Kempton and returned to that venue in the spring, making all over 1600m.

Sent off as favourite for his handicap debut over 1990m, BRIONI found one too strong despite keeping on well over the longer trip. Since then he has disappointed twice and connections will be hoping that the decision to geld BRIONI will improve his fortunes.

The handicapper has eased him in the ratings and the course and distance shouldn’t pose any problems but the question remains whether BRIONI can channel his energies in the right direction.

S3-5

15. VEYDARI

Trainer: Richard Fahey

Owned by the powerful Wathnan Racing and trained by Richard Fahey who has enjoyed plenty of success at this meeting, including winning this race in 2018, VEYDARI is an interesting newcomer to handicaps.

VEYDARI has not enjoyed any fortune with a barrier draw in 17 but has an interesting profile with this step up to 1400m expected to suit.

A beaten favourite on his racecourse debut at Haydock, he showed his inexperience but ran promisingly enough to again head the market on his next outing on an artificial surface at Newcastle. He failed to build on his initial run but was not disgraced and he looked to be learning with the experience when third at Nottingham with all three runs over 1200m.

VEYDARI has shown a tendency to race too keenly but he settled better last time and saw his race out more strongly as a result and this half-brother to middle distance winners should appreciate moving up in trip.

Vincent Ho will be hoping that VEYDARI’s tendency to race keenly doesn’t resurface if he looks to jump the colt out and gain a prominent position from his high draw but if Ho can get a good track position and persuade his mount to drop the bit, then he could be on an interesting contender with VEYDARI bred to be better than he’s shown to date.