Mickie Angel merits serious consideration despite sitting four pounds below the top-rated Jeroboam Machin, as a progressive profile and a more solid book of form suggest there is further improvement to come from this one over this extended trip at Ballinrobe. Jeroboam Machin heads the field on ratings and cannot be dismissed, while Donnie Devito and Slurricane also pose genuine threats in what looks a competitive nine-runner heat on good ground. The case for our selection rests on the belief that the ratings picture does not fully capture the upward curve, though this is admittedly a race where confidence is measured and a clean run will be essential. Mickie Angel is the selection.