1. Final Voyage – Score 9.0/10
The Clear Standout (Draw 4 | OR 94)
Final Voyage tops the assessment because he’s ticking almost every Tier 1 box with force.
He’s been running to RPRs up to 103, meaning he’s operating a full 9lb above his current handicap mark—the sweet spot you look for when trying to find the horse who’s simply better than the grade.
On the AW, he’s a seven-time winner. On this track, he finished a tight second last time, hitting the line with the kind of late strength that shows up again and again in the sectionals: three of his last four runs finished faster than standard par. That’s elite velocity.
Add in a red-hot stable and cheekpieces re-applied, and he’s the one the whole race pivots around.
Tied 2nd: Instant Appeal – Score 8.5/10
The Big Improver (Draw 6 | OR 83)
Instant Appeal is the classic case of a horse waking up for a new yard.
Since joining Stephen Thorne, he’s gone from middling to electric, his RPR jumping to 96, which places him a full stone ahead of his official mark. He’s already a recent C&D winner, he justified heavy market support, and he shapes like a horse who hasn’t stopped improving yet.
The trainer’s 21% Dundalk strike rate backs the data up. He arrives here looking dangerous.
Tied 2nd: Daler – Score 8.5/10
The Well-Ridden Threat (Draw 1 | OR 83)
Daler sits on the exact same numbers as Instant Appeal but gets there differently.
His strength comes from the RPR 100 vs OR 83 angle—he’s flat-out thrown in if he gets the splits. Track position was his enemy in a few recent runs (slow away, boxed in), yet he still finished like a horse crying out for a mile.
Now he gets that trip, plus Colin Keane, plus stall 1.
If Final Voyage fluffs the start or Instant Appeal levels off, Daler is the one ready to pounce.
4. Carolina Jetstream – Score 8.0/10
The Dark Horse (Draw 2 | OR 91)
Carolina Jetstream is the most interesting unknown in the race.
A lightly raced 3-yo making her handicap debut off an eye-catching Listed fourth here last time, where she ran to an RPR of 104—that’s miles ahead of her official rating. She’s improving, well drawn, and looks like she’ll relish the mile again.
If she handles the hustle of a proper handicap, she’s a player.
5. Apache Outlaw – Score 7.0/10
The Class Horse With Questions (Draw 3 | OR 96)
Apache Outlaw has the résumé—four wins here, proven class off much higher marks, and he comes from a yard that has won this exact race four times in eight years.
But his recent form is sliding, and his last few RPRs are nowhere near his best. He needs a resurgence, and while that’s possible on the AW, he no longer screams “arrival.”
6. Exquisite Acclaim – Score 6.5/10
The Reliable Course Horse… Usually (Draw 5 | OR 87)
Another AW veteran with six wins at the track, but his seasonal return was flat. His profile says he can bounce back here, but he needs to find something extra. His trainer’s race record keeps him in the conversation, but his current indicators don’t.
7. Howyoulikethat – Score 6.0/10
The Grinder (Draw 8 | OR 86)
He’s easing down the handicap and ran well last time, and his trainer has a good angle when sending just one runner.
But he hasn’t won this year, and too many of his recent runs read the same way: “Never a threat.” He’s consistent, but doesn’t hit the Tier 1 metrics hard enough to land higher.
8. Musical Act – Score 5.0/10
The Enigma (Draw 7 | OR 92)
The raw ability is huge—he has big historical RPRs from better days—but after an 18-month layoff, his comeback run was a shocker. He’s either rusty or not right yet, and the framework leans heavily against long layoffs without a prep run.
He could outrun his mark later this season. Just not today.
When you zoom out, the race has a clear shape:
TimeWise Chronicles 
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