Fully Lit, the runner-up in the Epsom Handicap, is embarking on a mission to achieve first place in this year’s renewal, with his initial step being a run at Rosehill.

The Tulloch Lodge gelding was withdrawn from last Saturday’s Missile Stakes (1200m) in favour of the 1400m Racing And Sports Handicap scheduled for this weekend. Co-trainer Adrian Bott is not expecting a winning performance on his comeback but is optimistic about seeing positive signs from Fully Lit in his first start since the spring.

“We held him over from last week. We just felt the 1200 first-up in that grade was going to be a bit sharp for him off the long layoff,” Bott commented. “He’d had a decent build up to that point with three trials, and probably lost a bit of that sharpness, so 1400 should suit him better.

“In saying that, he should still need racing. It wasn’t until deep into his ‘prep’ last time that we saw him hit a bit of form.

“He’s here of a long layoff so he’s going to need a bit of racing to get him up and going again.”

Having won the Inglis Millennium (1100m) as a two-year-old, Fully Lit spent a year on the sidelines after finishing midfield in the 2024 Golden Slipper (1200m).

He returned in May last year, and it took him six runs to reach the winner’s circle again. He then produced strong performances in several competitive races, including a placing in the Cameron Handicap at Newcastle and finishing second to Autumn Glow in the Epsom Handicap.

His run in the Golden Eagle was hampered by an undisclosed issue, which was later identified.

“He had a knee chip out after the Golden Eagle. I’d say that explains that run,” Bott confirmed. “We want to see him back to form over these next three runs or so heading towards an Epsom, and if things are going well, we can head towards that.”

Fully Lit will face 11 rivals at Rosehill, including the 2025 Spring Champion Stakes winner Attica, who is making his debut as a gelding.

Get the latest betting sites and odds for Fully Lit’s Epsom Handicap campaign.