A competitive Class 6 handicap rounds off the Leicester card, with several lightly raced three-year-olds still capable of finding improvement. The expected strong early pace should make this an intriguing tactical contest, with at least three habitual front-runners likely to ensure an honest gallop on the quick ground.

The Tunguska Event heads the market and is the one they all have to beat. A three-time winner already this season, he shaped much better than the bare result when racing away from the main action at Newcastle last time, and his previous efforts at Catterick and Doncaster suggest he’s well capable of winning from his current mark. The only concern is whether he faces too much competition for the lead.

That scenario could play perfectly into the hands of Pimentel, who has been knocking on the door with solid placed efforts at Chepstow and Brighton. She is expected to track the pace rather than force it and could be ideally positioned to strike inside the final furlong if the leaders begin to tire.

Maximum Velocity is another who likes to race prominently and arrives after a respectable third at Doncaster. However, with other pace angles in the field, he may not enjoy the uncontested lead that helped him score at Redcar earlier in the season.

The most interesting wildcard is Crafty Blue. A novice winner as a juvenile, she has failed to build on that promise in three handicap starts, but the return to six furlongs, first-time cheekpieces and the booking of Sean Levey offer reasons to believe she could bounce back. If rediscovering her best form, she has the ability to get involved.

Portacloy and Goldenstateofmind both have ability but arrive with questions to answer after disappointing recent campaigns, while handicap newcomer Landslide is difficult to assess and may prove a better horse now entering handicaps despite modest novice form.

With the pace expected to be strong throughout, the race may favour a runner who can settle just off the speed rather than one committed to making all.

Verdict: Pimentel is taken to capitalise on what looks an ideal race setup and can reel in the front-runners late. The Tunguska Event commands plenty of respect as the class act on recent form, while Crafty Blue appeals as the one capable of outrunning her odds if the return to sprinting sparks a revival.

Predicted 1-2-3

1. Pimentel
2. The Tunguska Event
3. Crafty Blue