Bath preview: Know Your Name weighted to go well

Know Your Name posted a much improved effort last time out, and can take advantage of a drop in the weights to land the the 1m handicap which opens proceedings on this evening’s card at Bath (18.10).

The David Evans trained gelding was in good form back in the winter, landing a 7f contest at Wolverhampton off a mark of 65 before finishing a highly creditable third at the same venue off 67.

Know Your Name then failed to fire when well-beaten in his next six starts, but there was much more to like about his run at Brighton eight days ago when third to Port Large over 7f.

The six-year-old stayed on strongly from off the pace to be nearest at the finish and beaten just 3/4 of a length, and it was a massive step back in the right direction.

Know Your Name is able to race in this off an unchanged mark of 64, and that is 1lb lower than when last victorious.

It gives the son of Halling every chance from a handicapping perspective, especially with the claim of promising jockey Declan Bates taking another 3lb off his back.

Know Your Name will also not be inconvenienced by the step back up to a mile, and everything points to a huge run.

In the 5f handicap (20.10), Escalating is a fascinating contender and potentially very well-treated on his belated return to action.

The Pat Eddery trained colt looked a smart prospect when winning two of his first three starts as a juvenile, and in the last of those at Ascot beat the now 92-rated Kibaar by 1/2 a length.

That is strong form in the contest of this contest, and makes Escalating looks well-treated off a mark of just 84.

It’s fair to say that Escalating failed to shine in his final three starts of 2014, but those runs came in decent contests which included a Listed race.

This class 4 affair represents a big drop in class, and Escalating also now drops back to the minimum trip over which he has won two of his four starts.

If ready to roll after 251 days on the sidelines, the son of Three Valleys is weighted to take all the beating.

Selections:
18.10: Know Your Name (NAP)
18.40: Angie’s Girl
19.10: Perfect Bounty
19.40: Free To Love
20.10: Escalating (NB)
20.40: Heart Locket
21.10: Light Breaks