1

Hold The Line

Irish-trained but he came over to Epsom for his penultimate start when he ran second - at odds of 50-1 - in a decent handicap having looked likely to win half-way up the straight. This longer distance is not sure to be ideal, and he was very well beaten on his last start.

2

Blue Surf

Finished strongly to finish third of 15 in this event last year and races off a similar handicap mark today. Although race-hardened from a previous outing in 2014 before this event and coming here off a 237-day break this time, he has run well off an absence before.

3

Montaly

A shade disappointing on his only start this season though maybe that all-weather track didn't suit. He is versatile distance and groundwise though in his ideal world, the ground would be softer rather than faster.

4

Adventure Seeker

Has no chance here on the form of his two starts this season but is at least easing down the weights and he did win a hot handicap over this sort of distance last season, also being placed in some other high quality affairs. If back in that sort of mood he would have his chances.

5

Buthelezi

A very versatile gelding who often runs over further than this distance, including over hurdles and fences. He showed his usual courage to win a handicap over 2800m - under usual front-running tactics - on his penultimate start and he is again likely to try and push the early pace here.

6

Highland Castle

Best on a quick racing surface and he arrives here after what looks like a career best performance having come with a powerful surge from off the pace to win a 2819m handicap at Salisbury two weeks ago, breaking the course record time for that distance. Chances here.

7

Lungarno Palace

Clearly thrives at this track having run his two best races here, coming close to landing a 25-1 shock win at Epsom last year and then proving his stamina for this distance when beating nine rivals here in good style in April. Ran poorly at Newmarket subsequently, hopefully just a blip.

8

Oasis Fantasy

A four-year-old who still looks to be gradually improving judged by his last two starts, both times going close to winning - at Ascot and Goodwood. With stamina on his side he would want a strong pace here, and that looks likely with various front-running types in the line-up.

9

Big Thunder

From a stable that have won this event before, though they are currently having a less good spell than they usually do at this time of year. All Big Thunder's career wins came in 2013 and his handicap mark subsequently came much tougher, with his one start of 2015 so far being just fair.

10

One Pursuit

Was in very good form at this time last year including a decisive victory in a Haydock handicap over 2382m. Beaten 13L in his only start this season but things didn't go his way in that handicap, and he is capable of much better especially on ground good or softer.

11

Mirsaale

Prominent throughout, he won the Derby Trial here at Epsom back in 2013 before being soundly beaten as a 50-1 outsider in the big race itself that year. The consequence of running in such races meant that he was allocated a high handicap mark and he struggled to compete off it when tried in handicaps last season. Treated more leniently now, and he has won off a break before.

12

Black Shadow

From a smallish stable that do have a good winning record in this event over the years. Quite lightly-raced and gelded since last season, he made quite an encouraging return to action in a Windsor handicap last month after racing too freely early on.

13

Barwick

Has only raced three times at Epsom from 32 career starts but they must count as three of his best efforts. On his 2015 debut and first start for this stable, he faced a difficult task trying to come from last over this course and distance but he finished fast for a close third.

14

Kings Bayonet

His last six starts have come on an all-weather surface but his best form has been shown on grass and at around this distance. A possible negative is that his only previous start at Epsom was not one of his best, never looking particularly happy on the track.

15

Pack Leader

Has only had one success from 13 starts but he has some good placed efforts including at this distance. He ran well enough on his only start this season - on the all-weather - and should be sharper for that run 17 days ago.

16

Treasure The Ridge

He won four consecutive handicaps last summer though three of them were on the all-weather surface. However, he is still facing a stiff handicap rating now and was beaten quite a long way in last month's 2015 return to action.

17

Jakey

Trained locally and he seems to really appreciate this track with this lightly-raced gelding winning on two of his five starts here. Those were both over a shorter distance but on his only run this season he showed he handled this trip as well with a close second here, battling all the way to the wire.

18

Gothic

A well-balanced gelding who should be suited to this track whilst ground good or soft would help him most. Perhaps the fast ground didn't help with a modest performance at Newmarket last time but he had shown plenty of 2015 encouragement at Pontefract previously.

19

Saoi

Two solid efforts out of three this year, and he wasn't beaten far in a 2000m handicap at Lingfield last time. However as an eight-year-old there is unlikely to be a lot more improvement at this stage plus he doesn't look obviously well handicapped.

20

War Singer

Has won seven times on the Flat though his most recent start was an impressive victory over hurdles and, though not needing to have a hard race that day, should be spot-on for this prize. He is clearly versatile but groundwise he would prefer it good or softer.