Views from connections ahead of the William Hill Scottish Sprint Cup Handicap at Musselburgh on Saturday.
Tony Coyle feels Caspian Prince faces an Herculean task when he lines-up for the William Hill Scottish Sprint Cup Handicap at Musselburgh on Saturday.
A 6lb penalty for his victory in the Investec Dash at Epsom on Derby day takes the top weight up to the welter burden of 9st 12lb, while he also has to deal with a potentially unfavourable draw in stall four.
However, Coyle reports the eight-year-old speedster to be good shape ahead of the £100,000 feature at the Edinburgh course.
"He's grand. We've not done a lot with him. He takes no training," said the North Yorkshire handler.
"He could have done with a better draw and he's got a 6lb penalty which makes it even worse. He wouldn't have won with that penalty the other day.
"He's fit and he's well and is there to do his best, but we'd be more hopeful than confident.
"He just jumps and goes. If races were over four furlongs, he'd be unbeaten. He's in good order, he looks well and he's fit. He had a blow on Wednesday morning and came up well."
Duke Of Firenze was only beaten a short head and a nose when third to Caspian Prince at Epsom and his trainer David Griffiths is expecting a big run from his eight-year-old.
"I think he's definitely improving and it could possibly be his last time in a handicap. He's up to 109 now so he'll have to go for Group races," said Griffiths.
"If he can match his Epsom run, maybe a couple of pounds better, it could see us there."
Jockey David Allan said: "He was a bit unlucky last time when third in the "Dash" at Epsom on Derby day and he will luck in running again as he needs to be dropped in.
"We're drawn in stall 16 so we'll just try and pick our way through as he likes plenty of cover. He's in very good form and hopefully he'll go close again."
Desert Law and Line Of Reason were seventh and ninth respectively in the Dash and are two of three intended runners for Paul Midgley.
"Line Of Reason hasn't had an awful lot of luck with the weather and things," he said.
"He ran well at Epsom, the draw (eight) could have been better and that would be the only slight negative for him. He's back to a really good mark.
"Desert Law hasn't got a very good draw (three). It's far from ideal. He was excellent when he won at Musselburgh. It was a solid run at Epsom and he goes there in great form."
The North Yorkshire handler's third runner is Gamesome, who has been handed a favourable stall as he bids to improve on his record of just one win from 25 starts.
"Gamesome has a got great draw (15). It's ideal for him," said Midgley.
"He hasn't had a lot of luck and has always threatened to win one, never mind a big one, but has kept bumping into one. His turn must be near.
"He's in good form and there no negatives. I'm hoping for a big run."
El Astronaute was eighth in the Epsom Dash after winning his first two races of the season.
John Quinn has him in excellent condition but he is another trainer who would have wished for a better draw.
"He's in very good form. I'm very happy with him and I'm sure he'll run a good race," he said.
"The draw (five) could have been a bit kinder, but there you are. You need luck and the splits, so we hope for the best."
Move In Time was only 15th at Epsom, but his trainer David O'Meara has seen signs the 2014 Prix de l'Abbaye hero is in decent form.
"He showing signs he might be coming back to himself, so hopefully he'll put up a good show there," O'Meara told At The Races.
Another former Group One performer competing in handicaps these days is Stepper Point, who was second in both the King's Stand and Nunthorpe Stakes in 2014.
The eight-year-old has had his problems but showed his well-being when successful at Chelmsford earlier this month and trainer William Muir is happy with the condition of his stable stalwart.
"He's in great form," said the Lambourn handler.
"He was good at Windsor (when winning in April) and then he got an abscess in his foot which didn't come out until after his second run after Windsor. He just wasn't himself and then he went to Chelmsford. I thought he was a certainty there and he proved he was.
"He seems to have gone forward from there. He's in good shape. We haven't got the loveliest draw (six), but at least we're not drawn one. It's not helpful, but we have to live with it.
"This horse has done us so well. He goes there in good form so we'll go up there and see what happens."
