Highest Ground has the perfect chance to enhance Stoute’s superb race record

George V Stakes at this meeting last term.

Racing Post Ratings suggest he’s been below his best in two starts this year, perhaps due to the fact he’s been slowly tuned up for this race. His course form is hard to overlook as well.

With the rain that has fallen, soft-ground specialist Wonderful Tonight has become a strong contender against the boys. She is already a Group 1 winner over this course and distance and connections delayed an early trip to the breeding sheds in order to come back for a much anticipated four-year-old campaign. Her record fresh (0-2) is a slight concern.

Another to consider is antepost Ebor favourite Ilaraab, who was one of the most improved horses around last season and took his winning streak to six when he stayed on powerfully to take the Jorvik Handicap at York last month. William Haggas wouldn’t run a handicap winner in a race like this for no reason and clearly believes he has the class to feature.