THUNDER PRINCE

Five weeks ago, this horse performed poorly in a Happy Valley sprint, slow to jump and settling towards the rear with an even pace but lacking a strong finish. He finished beaten three and a half lengths. In a subsequent trial over 1200m at Happy Valley, he benefits from a five-pound weight reduction this time around. The timing compared to other horses in the group is reasonable and has drawn a favorable barrier. The tactics will be to settle towards the rear, with a strong finishing kick expected to be among the best in the field. He appears to have higher overall ability than many of his rivals, and the jockey has some understanding of the horse’s capabilities; connections are confident.