1:35 Haydock: William Hill Epic Boosts Handicap Stakes

Cerulean Bay Daniel Tudhope · David O'Meara

Cerulean Bay shaped with promise when second three starts back and he has experience over today's trip and going, while our rating just edges him ahead of this field; the main risk is that he has been winless in his last six starts, and the 140 lb burden is significant.

Mister Winston P. J. McDonald · Andrew Balding

Mister Winston landed a win five starts back but has failed to hit the frame in his last four, including back-to-back finishes of seventh and eighth, which tempers optimism; he has run over today's trip and returns on a quick 14-day turnaround carrying 136 lb.

Centigrade Hector Crouch · Ralph Beckett

Back-to-back wins three and four starts back give Centigrade a solid recent profile, and a return just 10 days later suggests he's in the flow of things; he has run over today's trip and carries 136 lb from stall nine, with his last two runs a shade below that winning benchmark to keep in mind.

Godwinson David Probert · Jack Channon

Winless in his last five starts and representing a trainer in a lean spell, Godwinson faces an uphill task here, though he has run over today's distance and going before and returns from a 57-day break that may have freshened him.

Arctic Thunder Ashley Lewis(3) · Ed Walker

Arctic Thunder has back-to-back wins in his recent starts but was well beaten last time out, ranks ninth of ten on our figures, and while he has run over today's trip and returns after a reasonable 22-day break, it is hard to look past his rating deficit here.

Commander's Intent Callum Rodriguez · George Scott

Winless in his last five starts and absent for 153 days, Commander's Intent faces a stiff task ranked eighth of ten on our figures; the third last time out and hat-trick of runner-up finishes three, four and five starts back show he gets close without delivering.

Checkandchallenge Callum Shepherd · William Knight

Checkandchallenge shaped with promise when third three starts back, and he has run over today's trip and conditions before, giving him a solid claims base; the risk is that he has been winless in his last six starts, so a return to form must be proven on the day.

Looka Sean Levey · Marco Botti

Looka advertises his claims with a win last time out and has run over today's trip and going, while his 101 rating underlines his threat from stall three; the worry is that two fifths in his last five starts show inconsistency that must be overcome.

Desperate Dan George Wood · Peter Chapple-Hyam

Ranked bottom of the field on our figures, Desperate Dan faces a stiff ask after 106 days off the track, and consecutive sixth and ninth-placed finishes in his last two starts do him no favours, though he has run over today's distance and going and was a winner three starts back.