Sassicaia arrives here on a progressive profile that gives connections genuine reason for optimism over this ten-furlong trip at Nottingham, and a fitness edge over some rivals could prove telling on ground that will suit a horse travelling in the right direction. Affection heads the field on ratings, sitting narrowly ahead of our selection, but Sassicaia's upward trajectory makes that gap less daunting than it might appear on paper, and Crown Office along with Bee Farmer will need to find more than they have shown to threaten. This is an open enough heat and confidence is modest, but the progressive case for Sassicaia is the most compelling angle on the race. **Selection: Sassicaia.**