Limited speed in this maiden, which is a problem when you've got a stack of horses who need a genuine tempo. But let's cut through it. Nistirith is the shorty for a reason, punters. Four placings from five starts at this trip, including a close second to Slip The Jab last start who's already won since. That's not bad form, that's outstanding form. She's been knocking on the door every single time at 1000m and Holly Watson knows her well.

Mamma Says So is the danger. Second at Bunbury last start behind Cassenite, beaten less than a length. Before that, ran fifth at Ascot in Class 1 company beaten less than a length behind Cannykev. That's a mare who's mixing it with horses who've already won. Joshua Krispyn has her primed.

Boutique Belle is interesting with William Pike jumping on. By Pierro, trained by Michael Grantham, and ran second to Kentucky Drive at Lark Hill last start. But the fifth at Bunbury at her favourite odds worries me. That's a mare who might need more tempo than this race will provide.

Kentucky Drive won at Lark Hill last start and has the tongue tie going on first time. She's got soft track form with three runs on it for a second and two other placings. Don't dismiss her, but I reckon Nistirith has her measure on that Belmont form.

Maestra debuts for Robert & Kate Witten with Steven Parnham aboard, which tells you they think she's ready. Trialled well at Lark Hill, running third. First-timers with that stable and jockey combination demand respect.

I reckon Nistirith gets it done. She's been too consistent at this trip to keep knocking on the door, and in a slow-run race, her consistency wins out.

Bloody hell, look at this speed map. Seven horses all wanting to lead: Win For Buster, Action Not Talk, Cachaca, My Testimony, Mandible Magic, Fortgang, Latina Melody. Someone's getting fried up front, and the ones settling off the speed are going to have a field day.

Win For Buster is the shorty with William Pike on and blinkers going on first time. Second-up after running fourth at Belmont behind Can't Catch Me, beaten a length and a half. Won at Lark Hill before that. The blinkers are the gear change that suggests David Harrison wants him to find the front and control it, but in this speed battle? Good luck, son. He's going to have company, and plenty of it.

My Testimony draws the inside rail and carries only 55kg with Jefferson Tsang's claim. She's run third twice in her last two at Belmont over this trip, beaten 2.5 lengths and 2.7 lengths. Eight starts all at 1000m, and while she's never won, she's been placed three times. The light weight and inside gate in a fast-run race are massive advantages. She can sit off the speed and pick them off.

Cachaca is a Michael Lane runner with Chris Parnham on, which is a combination that wins plenty. Trialled okay at Lark Hill, running third behind Admire Tiff. The speed map says he's a leader, but I reckon he might get shuffled back in this chaos, which could actually help him.

Mandible Magic for Neville Parnham ran third behind Slip The Jab last start, beaten just over a length. Before that, second at Belmont beaten a nose. She's knocking hard, and the blinkers stay on. Another who wants to lead, another who's going to get caught in the battle.

I'm all over My Testimony in this. The inside gate, the light weight, and the ability to sit off a suicidal speed battle makes her the value play. If she doesn't run a place, I'll eat my hat.

Another slow tempo here, which doesn't help the on-pace runners. Slip The Jab won a Belmont maiden last start and now steps up to Class 1. Luke Fernie and Chris Parnham have him going the right way, but this is a different kettle of fish. He's won twice at 1000m, but both were at Belmont over 400m and the recent maiden. The form looks solid, but stepping straight into Class 1 is a test.

Order Online won at Belmont last start in the 0-71 grade and has won twice from three starts at this trip. Both wins came first-up, and here he is first-up again. Colin Webster Jnr knows how to place them, and this horse has a pattern. The concern is the ninth at Belmont in Class 1 on soft when he was beaten nearly six lengths. But that was three runs back, and he's won since.

Beau's A Lad is the favourite but I'm not convinced. He ran fifth at Ascot two back at 1000m, beaten 3.8 lengths. The second at Pinjarra in Class 1 over 1406m is okay form, but that's not this trip. He's 0 from 2 at 1000m. The market's got this wrong.

Ripper Farooq second-up for Chris & Michael Gangemi with Zephen Johnston-porter's claim bringing him down to 60.5kg. He ran second at Ascot in Class 1 last campaign, beaten just over a length. The blinkers go back on, visors come off. He's won second-up before, and the gear change suggests they're trying to sharpen him up.

I reckon Order Online is the one. First-up specialist at the trip, won last start, and the form at this level is there. Slip The Jab is talented but this is a step up in grade that might come a run too soon.

This is a proper handicap with some depth to it. Ripper Rupert is the favourite and rightly so. He won at Bunbury in Class 3 two starts back, then ran fourth at Ascot behind Watto's Mark beaten 3.3 lengths. That Ascot run was in open company, and he's now back to a set weight race with William Pike on. Three wins from ten starts, and he's won at Ascot before. The blinkers stay on, and Luke Fernie has him cherry ripe.

Lucky I Am ran second at Belmont last start behind Snow Prince, beaten less than a length. She's placed eight times from nineteen starts and loves this trip with ten starts at 1000m for six placings. The claim from Zephen Johnston-porter gets her down to 58.5kg. She's honest, she's consistent, but can she win? That's the question.

Niccimota is first-up for Jim Taylor after a month off. She won at Belmont in the 0-71 grade three starts back, then ran third and fourth at Ascot in better company. She's 3 from 3 at this trip with three wins, all at 1000m. First-up record is 0 from 4, but second-up she's won once from four. This might be a run short.

Kings Court won a Belmont Class 1 race last start with just four runners. Before that, fourth in the 0-71 grade. He's won twice at this trip from five starts, both first-up. Chris & Michael Gangemi have him going well, and he's a horse who can sit off the speed and finish.

I'm backing Ripper Rupert. He's the class horse in this field, William Pike is the best jockey in the west, and the form at Ascot is solid. If he brings his Bunbury form, they're not running him down.

The staying test at 1800m, and it's going to be a slow-run affair. Streak Of God is the favourite fresh off a Bunbury maiden win over 1695m. By Playing God, so the stamina is bred into him. Grant & Alana Williams and William Pike is a combination that wins plenty, and this bloke won by over a length last start. He's stepping up to Class 3, but the form looks strong enough.

Mistress Of War won at Ascot in Class 3 over this trip two starts back, then ran fourth in the same grade last start beaten 2.4 lengths. She's won at this trip before, she handles Ascot, and Laqdar Ramoly knows her well. The blinkers stay on. She's the one they all have to beat on form.

Pecos is a 7-year-old who's won at this exact trip before. Won at Mount Barker last start over 1850m by nearly a length and a half. He's 1 from 1 at 1800m, which is a perfect record. The wide gate is a concern, but Chanel Cooper's claim gets him down to 57kg, and in a slowly run race, he can work into it.

Black For Cash ran third at Belmont over 1600m last start, beaten 1.3 lengths. He's placed twice at this trip from three starts, so the distance suits. The winkers come off for the first time, which is interesting. Justine Erkelens must think he's been over-racing.

Cheyne Bay ran sixth at Belmont over 2100m last start, which is further than this. The drop back to 1800m might suit, and he ran third at Ascot in Class 3 over this trip two starts back. The blinkers stay on.

I reckon Streak Of God has too much class for this field. He's bred to run all day, he's got William Pike on, and the Bunbury win was dominant. Mistress Of War is the danger with her course and distance form, but the favourite looks the goods.

Moderate pace expected with Fey King and Pointless Praise likely to set a fair tempo. Defending is the favourite for Daniel & Ben Pearce, and he's run well fresh with a third and a second in his last two at Pinjarra. Both were in the No Metro Wins category, beaten 0.64 lengths and 0.52 lengths. He's honest, he's consistent, and the blinkers go on first time. That's a gear change that suggests they want him to be more aggressive.

Fey King ran second at Belmont over 1600m last start behind Space Academy, beaten 1.6 lengths. Before that, fifth at Belmont over 1400m. He's lightly raced with just seven starts, and William Pike jumping on is a massive tick. The blinkers stay on, and the speed map says he'll lead or sit close. In a moderate tempo, that's a perfect position.

Just Leroy has run second twice in his last two starts at Ascot, both in the No Metro Wins/One Metro Win category. Beaten 0.26 lengths and 1.7 lengths. He's knocking hard, and this drop to Class 3 might be the key. Five starts at 1600m for a second-up win and two placings. The soft track is a query with just one placing from six starts on it.

Seindeel ran fifth at Bunbury last start in Class 5, beaten 5.5 lengths. That's not good enough. Before that, eighth at Belmont in Class 3. The form doesn't stack up against these.

Pointless Praise is at ridiculous odds given his form. He ran second at Ascot over 2200m in open company, beaten 0.64 lengths by Bernbrae. That's outstanding form. The wide gate is a concern, but Brandon Louis can use the moderate pace to work into a position. At those odds, he's a massive overlay.

I'm going against the favourite here. Defending is honest but I reckon Fey King with William Pike is the value play. The blinkers, the jockey, and the race shape all suit. Pointless Praise at huge odds is worth a saver bet for those chasing value.