KYLE OF LOCHALSH is one of the most unexposed stayers in the line-up, following just three efforts over distances beyond two miles. The four-year-old Highland Reel colt bolted up in a Salisbury handicap over 1m6f in May, prior to a career best at Royal Ascot, finishing third over 2m4f.

He continued his good form with a keeping-on third behind Temporize at Newbury. The rise in distance is likely to play to his strengths here and he’s unlikely to have reached the ceiling of his ability, with further progress expected.

BLUE FOR YOU firmly bounced back to form with an excellent York handicap success over this trip. The runner-up, Northern Express, has subsequently won a valuable Ascot handicap, to boost the form. He is a pound ‘well-in’, having received a 3lb penalty but he is due to go up 4lb.

Second in this contest in 2022, Blue For You should have the race run perfectly to suit, and he offers a bold shout if getting any luck in-running.

SOCIALITE has made an excellent start to his short career, with two victories prior to a fourth in Listed company at Newmarket. He ran behind Al Musmak and Lead Artist that day but was keen throughout, not quite seeing out the mile journey. As a pacy type, Socialite could be a different proposition on this downhill track and prove hard to catch here.

It would be folly to dismiss his claims, especially if allowed an easy lead.

STARLUST could cause a minor upset in the G1 King George Stakes over the flying 5f at the West Sussex venue. The Zoustar speedster boasts a superb strike-rate over the minimum distance – with form figures of 311 – including an uber-impressive success in Listed company at York last time. He is a rapidly improving type, who comes out joint-top on official ratings, with his three-year-old weight allowance.

He also has form tied in with likely favourite, Big Evs, finishing a close third behind him at the Breeders’ Cup last term. He shouldn’t be discounted at each-way odds, despite a career best needed to claim victory.

NEW CHELSEA is an intriguing runner in the concluding race on the card, the extended 1m3f handicap. The son of New Bay got off the mark on his eighth start, with a gusty novice win at Windsor over a mile. He was one paced, once hitting the front that day, indicating a rise in trip could eke out further improvement.

On breeding, there is every chance of progress upped in trip, as his dam was a 1m3f winner and close relation to a King George winner at 1m4f.

It was an impressive campaign last year for the gelding, who landed five races in the space of three months and was winning comfortably with plenty to spare. Racing over a variety of trips, Robert Johnson is a highly adaptable gelding and recorded wins over three different trips last year. Tasked with one of his longest trips here today, he has only raced over 2m4f once (flat racing), which resulted in a close second in a class two event at Goodwood.

Returning this year after an eight-month break, the six-year-old has recorded finishes of 3,2,5,4 and will be looking to get back to his 2023 form here today for his new stable, racing off 1lb lighter. Switching to Tracy Waggott’s yard, a fresh start may be just what he needs, and he should run well in favourable conditions today.

An improving gelding out of Dark Angel who landed wins in class five and class four last year, he has now recorded two wins in class three this year. Improving steadily, he raced in his first class one event in May this year, where he finished a respectable fifth place in a race that didn’t suit his running style. Preferring to race held up at the rear of the field to attack a collapsing pace, a slow tempo was set out in front and he found himself racing keenly and wasting energy. A minor blip in what has been a solid 2024 for Ice Max, he should bounce back here today.

Producing his best runs over 1m so far in his career, he is taking on the quickest ground he has faced here today, which could work in his favour. With Socialite likely to try and make all the running, a strong pace could be set here today which will play perfectly into the hands of Ice Max who is looking to land his third win in five starts.

An experienced three-year-old who has raced 14 times throughout his career, mainly over 6f, but his best starts have all come when racing over today’s 5f trip. Landing a competitive handicap at York in May, he won going away by 2 ¼ lengths before taking on the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. Racing in his second Group 1 race, he didn’t live up to expectations when finishing eighth, but quickly bounced back from this to land a listed event at York in fine fashion last month.

A previous Group 3 winner and only losing one of his three 5f starts when finishing third last year, he holds solid each way claims for today, especially with making the top three in 10 of his 14 appearances and picking up four wins along the way.

A two-year-old colt who has been exceptional this year and is improving with every performance. Finishing second on his debut at Southwell to kick-start his career, followed by a fourth at Nottingham on unfavoured soft ground, he has found a new level racing on quicker ground.

Landing his first victory in May when racing for the first time on good to firm, he landed a pretty straight forward affair before taking on his first Nursery. Recording back-to-back wins on quick ground, he scored last time out at Windsor, where he stayed on well to fend off the challenging Storm Call.

Racing 4lb heavier on the back of his efforts last time out, this doesn’t look enough to cause him any real issues, showing arguably the best form in the race and looks set for another bold performance here today.