Class: 6 | Distance: 1m1f207y | Surface: Turf | Eligibility: For horses who haven’t won in 2025
Going: Good to Firm

• Pace: An even to steady gallop expected. Only Chourmo and Mc’ted have shown early pace; others typically race mid-to-rear. If Chourmo gets loose on the front around Brighton’s unique contours, he can prove hard to peg back.
• Draw Angles: No conclusive high or low bias over this trip at Brighton, though low-to-mid draws (1–5) are historically advantageous for prominent runners due to the sharp turn and camber. Chourmo (6) and Mc’ted (4) ideally drawn for early position.

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2. Strongest Contenders, Main Dangers, Interesting Outsiders + Trends / Timeform Comments

Strongest Contenders

• Chourmo (Mark Gillard) – 5yo gelding rated 55. Brighton suits his style; he tends to travel smoothly and runs prominently. 2lb below last winning mark and his best RPRs (74) suggest he’s the class act in this field. Conditions ideal. Proven.
• Fighting Poet (Richard Phillips) – Last win came over C&D off a similar mark. Showed promise again in August and is one of the few with strong Brighton form. Jim Crowley booked—an eye-catching signal. Proven.
• Beautiful Dawn (James Owen) – Lightly raced since joining current yard, and latest run was her best yet. Multiple positive notebook comments and solid pedigree for this trip. Still unexposed and now on a winnable mark. Progressive.

Main Dangers

• Unknown Journey (Tony Carroll) – 3yo whose best efforts have come at 7f but shaped like further would suit. Profile suggests he may step up significantly over this trip; dam stayed 2m. Could be better than this grade. Promising, but a stamina query.
• Mc’ted (Michael Keady) – Course winner but form has flattened. Typically front-runs or races prominently, so could play a role from draw 4. Doesn’t always find off the bridle, but tactically well-suited. Proven, though not progressive.

Interesting Outsiders

• Voltaic (Tony Carroll) – Veteran who keeps knocking on the door at this level but lacks finishing kick. Has gone close over shorter at Brighton but usually fades. Reliable but vulnerable to anything with a turn of foot. Proven, exposed.
• Bird About Town (Mark Usher) – Looks outclassed on current evidence; well beaten in all recent starts. Hard to make a case. Unproven and exposed.

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3. Runner Scores & Suitability Analysis

Horse	Score	Suitability
Chourmo	8/10	Best mark, front-runner at Brighton, strong track profile
Fighting Poet	7.5/10	C&D winner, well-handicapped, booking of Crowley a plus
Beautiful Dawn	7/10	Unexposed, shaped well last time, up in trip suits
Unknown Journey	6.5/10	Scopey 3yo, stamina to prove, but fits race type
Mc’ted	6/10	Brighton form, might get loose early, but may fade
Voltaic	5/10	Course-placed but often fades; pace not ideal
Bird About Town	3/10	No recent promise or tactical advantage

Keep an eye on the market for support or big drifts for runners returning from layoffs of 90+ days.
Watch out for in-form sprinters returning quickly; they can be hot.

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4. Each-Way Angles

Not applicable – only 7 runners declared.

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5. Private Tissue Estimate

My estimated fair odds (private tissue) based on profile, race shape, and suitability:

• Chourmo – 3/1
• Fighting Poet – 4/1
• Beautiful Dawn – 6/1
• Unknown Journey – 8/1
• Mc’ted – 10/1
• Voltaic – 14/1
• Bird About Town – 33/1+

Market watch advised for runners making their 2nd start or recent class dropper (e.g., Beautiful Dawn, Unknown Journey).

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6. Summary + Professional Punter View (Smart Play)

Summary

This is a modest 0–55 Brighton handicap where tactical positioning and suitability to the track are paramount. Chourmo is the likeliest front-runner and has dropped to a good mark; if allowed to dictate, he could dominate. Fighting Poet has the best local form and will benefit from the uphill finish. Beautiful Dawn brings potential improvement on just her third run for the yard.

Smart Play

• Win Selection: Chourmo – Track/trip winner with tactical edge and the class to dominate at this level.
• Value Threat: Beautiful Dawn – Quietly progressive, shaped well latest, and could improve again at this trip.