This isn’t a race to get clever with.
The Comment Shaper sets the tone straight away — no front runner, very little early pressure and a weak overall shape. That usually produces a tactical affair where positioning matters far more than stamina. It won’t suit horses coming from miles back, and it won’t take much winning.
Against that backdrop, the TimeWise Master ratings point firmly in one direction.
New Order (IRE) sits clear on top with a rating of 345, and crucially, there’s a sizeable gap back to the rest. That matters. These races are very often won by the top two in the ratings, and in this case the top one has daylight in hand.
He’s consistent, arrives in form, and his recent figures are comfortably the best on offer. While he’s usually ridden patiently, the lack of pace here should see him sit closer than usual. In a race where many will be waiting for something to happen, he looks the one most likely to travel into it and find enough at the finish.
Lord Accord (IRE) is the only one that makes any appeal as an alternative. He’s second on the ratings and has the tactical versatility to get involved, but he’s an 11-year-old now and not one you’d call reliable. You’re taking plenty on trust.
The rest look up against it. Get Up Mush, Pilsdon Pen and The Famous Five all want a stronger pace than they’re likely to get. Fever Dream may get a soft lead or handy sit, which gives him a squeak, but his overall level is short of what’s usually required in a race like this.
In truth, this is a race where the market leader makes plenty of sense.
Verdict
New Order (IRE) is the clear pick on ratings and the most likely to handle the race as it unfolds.