Laafi heads this competitive 17-runner staying contest at Listowel on a rating that places him narrowly ahead of Path d'Oroux and seven pounds clear of Helvic Dream, and his profile over this sort of trip on good ground gives genuine cause for optimism. Path d'Oroux and Helvic Dream are the most credible threats, with Gameball also meriting respect on a rating that puts him twelve pounds off the top, though the gap to the remainder looks more substantial. The confidence is not sky-high in a field of this size over sixteen furlongs, but Laafi's edge at the head of the ratings and his overall profile make a compelling enough case. The selection is Laafi.