1

Monsieur Joe

Doing his best work at the finish when running an excellent second in this prestigious sprint test a year ago. This veteran speedster must race off a higher handicap mark now, having run some decent races in Listed and Group race company since. Big fields suit his style whilst ground good or softer would play to his strengths.

2

Maljaa

Has a fantastically consistent profile, having never finished out of the first three in ten starts. According to the figures his career best run came on soft ground - winning at Haydock last September - but he can also handle a quick surface. He should be sharper for his recent 2016 reappearance start, and this has been a target for a long time.

3

Caspian Prince

This is his first start since returning from Meydan where he ran in four sprints, earning some good placemoney. Has some good form on this track and won this race two years ago (from a similar high number gate), racing prominently and battling on well. However he does race off a 6lb higher mark this time, so everything will need to go right.

4

Desert Law

He really seems to appreciate this place - the world's fastest 1000m track - having run a close second in this race back in 2012 and winning it last year from stall one, normally considered to be an unfavourably low gate. He has mostly been disappointing since and he is also 14lb higher in the ratings, but the stable have suddenly burst into winning form.

5

Humidor

Had a nightmare trip in this race last year and would surely have finished much closer than ninth with more luck. He does like this track as he showed when winning here last August, storming through to victory despite having to race widest of all. He'll need to raise his game on two modest performances this season. Soft ground would help.

6

Boom The Groom

His four starts this year have all been on an all-weather surface but he is also very comfortable on this downhill turf track, having finished third in this event last year and an unlucky third in another sprint here last August. Physically small, but speedy.

7

Red Baron

His jockey will want him out of the gates smartly as he is a better horse when leading. Those tactics nearly worked in a handicap sprint at Thirsk last time, just one rival mowing him down late on. His trainer says that Red Baron has an ideal attitude for racing.

8

Hay Chewed

Quite a lightly raced mare whose three career wins have all come over this distance and with a seeming preference for fast ground conditions. She had a long break from the track before starting at 100-1 for a G3 sprint at Newmarket in April, but kept on really well after leading on the stands' side. The fact she was only beaten 3 lengths there makes one believe that she could be well handicapped if she can repeat that level here.

9

Harry Hurricane

Returned to winning form at York last month when accelerating at the right time to gain a narrow victory. Although yet to run at this track he has performed well at Goodwood which is quite similar. He will probably be kept for a very late challenge as he can be lazy when in front.

10

Green Door

Closed down last season with a career highlight when thrashing his five rivals by 6 lengths and upwards in a handicap sprint, perhaps helped by the first-time visor. He was then sent to Meydan with hopes high of a rewarding trip, but he was bitterly disappointing and, only in his latest start back in the UK, did he show a bit of his old spark.

11

Roudee

Not only improved but also more consistent this season and that includes a close second here in April when he battled on well in the closing stages. He is creeping up in the weights so his tasks are technically becoming more difficult though soft conditions would help him here.

12

Seeking Magic

Narrowly defeated in this race two years ago and another really good effort saw him finish fifth last year. All his starts since then have been over the longer 1200m and he was involved in a controversial finish at Goodwood last time, doing well to finish in front after racing too freely and drifting right across the track. He was subsequently demoted. The stable are in hot form.

13

Duke Of Firenze

Came with a terrific late surge from an unpromising position to win this sprint back in 2013, by contrast finishing last of 20 this time last year. Potentially well handicapped now and his victory after another strong finish in a York handicap last time suggested he is right in form now.

14

Secretinthepark

Finished third in the 1200m handicap on this card last year, and also won a 1000m handicap at Ascot in August 2015, always prominent and clinging bravely on to the money. He encounters lots of race-hardened rivals on this first start for 252 days but did win first time out for the season back in 2013.

15

Kimberella

From a stable that specialise in sprint races, and this guy is having a good season. Always travelling nicely he beat 13 rivals at Chester three starts back, and there has been nothing wrong with his two starts since. He has plenty of gate speed whilst good ground or softer would be ideal.

16

Lathom

A smart two-year-old last year incuding a victory in a valuable 'sales race' at Newbury showing some outstanding speed in the centre of the track. His form trailed off at the end of 2015 and he has subsequently changed stables with veteran rider Kieren Fallon being an interesting booking.

17

Mukaynis

Considered very unlucky not to be much closer around Chester's tight bends last time, getting no daylight when he needed it. He seems a better horse since being fitted with blinkers, as he showed when gaining a shock win over 1200m at Haydock last October.

18

Blithe Sprint

A five furlong specialist all of whose five wins have come over this distance, and frequently on a slow surface. It is quite surprising that she has not raced at this track until now as the downhill 1000m should suit. She has run two fair races this season so far.

19

Normal Equilibrium

Down the field in this race last year but, having continued to ease in the handicap, he came good over this course and distance in April. Always prominent that day, he responded well when challenged and won with something to spare. The ground was soft that day, his preferred conditions.

20

Sandfrankskipsgo

Has competed six times here at Epsom in the past without winning, though running quite close several times. He has been racing on an all-weather surface more recently, and recorded a very fast time when winning at Lingfield earlier in the year. He has had this race as a target since then, but his supporters would surely have preferred quicker ground conditions.