15:05 York

Saturday 15 July 2017

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:4517:15

58th John Smith's Cup Handicap

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 2m 10.16s

(10)

Scarlet Dragon^h²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Tom Marquand| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 109| CD

10/1

Creditable sixth in the Wolferton at Royal Ascot last month on seasonal return and is a former C&D winner. Runs off the same mark here and worth considering.

Form: 41210-6

(8)

Central Square²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: J Mitchell| T: R Varian| OR: 107| D

16/1

Won a couple of Class 2 handicaps last year and he went well on return at Newmarket when given an impossible task. Behind Scarlet Dragon at Ascot last time out.

Form: 1413-30

(6)

Snoano²¹^{(ex 5)}

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 102| C| D

20/1

Caused a 25/1 shock in landing the Wolferton at Ascot last time out, just holding off Majeed. Not weighted to confirm that form here but showed a really gutsy attitude to keep his head in front. 5lb penalty makes things very tough.

Form: 18-1571

(15)

Master Carpenter²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Adam J McNamara⁽³⁾| T: B R Millman| OR: 105| CD

12/1

Ended two-year wait for a win over C&D in May off a mark of 95, couldn't reproduce that effort next time at Ascot having been raised 10lb and goes off the same mark now. Firm ground also a concern.

Form: 46-0010

(9)

Bravery^h²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 104

33/1

Lincoln winner has been struggling in three runs since, goes up significantly in trip for this contest but has proven stamina in the past. Hood goes back on and while not completely ruled out, this looks tough.

Form: 40-1780

(19)

Another Touch²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 104

33/1

Has been in excellent form this season, albeit over much shorter trips than this, not discounted if lasting out the distance, though trainer's record at this track is a modest one.

Form: 2-02410

(17)

Victory Bond⁵⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: P Cosgrave| T: W J Haggas| OR: 102| D

6/1

Not unfancied for mile handicap here in May on return from 330-day layoff, trainer has won this race twice in the last six years and is currently operating at a 32% strike rate (16/50). Merits a good deal of respect going up in trip.

Form: 2/164-3

(11)

Ballet Concerto²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: James Doyle| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 102

8/1

Excellent effort over a mile in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot last time, leading claims if handling this extra yardage but was poor on sole previous try at 1m2f in a Windsor maiden last April.

Form: 12-1564

(21)

Dragon Mall^b1,e/s1²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: S Donohoe| T: D M Simcock| OR: 101

25/1

Rather spurned his chance early on in the Wolferton behind some of these last month, before making good late progress. Could be staying on to good effect over this longer trip and will be sporting firs-time eyeshields and blinkers to aid the cause.

Form: 3-65739

(22)

Tumbaga²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Edward Greatrex⁽³⁾| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 100

40/1

Behind a fair few of these last month at Ascot, will need to overcome widest stall in 22-runner field to win this and others make more sound appeal based on all three runs this year off 509-day layoff.

Form: 112/600

(18)

Briardale¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: D Nolan| T: J D Bethell| OR: 100| BF| C| D

33/1

Is rated 10lb higher than when careering away from the field to win the Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar in May (1m2f, good) but should give his running in this having had a pipe opener on Newcastle's AW recently.

Form: 561210

(5)

Majeed²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: F Sweeney| T: D M Simcock| OR: 100| D

14/1

Running on strongly when just failing to reel in Snoano in the Wolferton at Royal Ascot three weeks ago, that was a very notable effort and has to be seriously considered attempting to go one better off the same mark now.

Form: 4-04802

(16)

Mistiroc^v²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: G Lee| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 99| D

50/1

Well held at Ascot in the Duke Of Edinburgh (1m4f) last time out, in keeping with most of his recent efforts on turf. Has plenty to do in order to hit the frame here seemingly.

Form: 6-64239

(1)

Eddystone Rock^h²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Robert Tart| T: J R Best| OR: 99| D

20/1

Good effort to be second in Epsom handicap over 1m4f early last month, though 2lb hike for that didn't help case at Ascot since when unable to mount significant challenge over same trip on good to firm ground. Has very little room for manoeuvre off current mark.

Form: 476820

(4)

Big Country⁷^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Ray Dawson⁽⁷⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 94| CD

7/1

Scored over C&D last month and every chance his stamina was exposed since at Haydock. Much improved performer since joining this trainer and, if race doesn't come too quickly, should be there or thereabouts over the trip.

Form: 5-11418

(14)

Sixties Groove^p²²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: G Mosse| T: J Noseda| OR: 98| D

8/1

Lightly-raced sort that was sent off favourite for the Duke Of Edinburgh at Ascot last month, finishing 4L fifth of 19. Didn't enjoy perfect passage there and chance of further improvement still. Has to be on the shortlist.

Form: 1241-75

(20)

Uae Prince⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 97| BF| D

13/2

Progressive looking sort who was an impressive winner at Ripon on seasonal return. Things didn't quite go his way at Ascot last time, finding Listed company a little too hot but every chance back in a handicap off this mark. Unexposed but has wide berth to overcome.

Form: 316-15

(7)

Erik The Red^p1⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 97| D

16/1

Beaten 10L over C&D in May and has just 2lb back in his favour now on first run since. Gets first-time cheekpieces to help but others look better treated.

Form: 9372-69

(13)

Garcia³⁰¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: J Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 95| C

14/1

Three wins from just six starts, there's every chance that we haven't seen the best of him. Never run beyond the mile before and off the track since September, this would be a terrific feat of training should he score. Worth noting in the betting.

Form: 31/1104-

(3)

Dark Red⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: P Mulrennan| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 95| BF| D

25/1

Rattled off a hat-trick last year but handicapper has caught up with him and while he's been running well in similar grade contests to this, it's hard to imagine he has much scope from a handicapping perspective. Best form on turf has come with cut in the ground.

Form: 4200-44

Forecasts

Victory Bond (6/1), Uae Prince (13/2), Big Country (7/1), Ballet Concerto (8/1), Sixties Groove (8/1), Scarlet Dragon (10/1), Master Carpenter (12/1), Garcia (14/1), Majeed (14/1), Central Square (16/1), Erik The Red (16/1), Eddystone Rock (20/1), Snoano (20/1), Dark Red (25/1), Dragon Mall (25/1), Another Touch (33/1), Bravery (33/1), Briardale (33/1), Tumbaga (40/1), Mistiroc (50/1)

Victory Bond looks a good starting place given that his trainer is in breathtaking form right now and has won this prize twice since 2011. This has probably been a target for some time and he has to go on any shortlist. Scarlet Dragon made up good late ground at Ascot in the Wolferton (a race where many of these ran) and must be considered as a previous C&D winner. That Ascot race was won by Snoano but a 5lb penalty makes things devilishly tough and the runner-up Majeed makes more appeal now on the revised terms. Sixties Groove could have a race like this in his compass but a chance is taken on DRAGON MALL. He forfeited a lot of ground at the start of the Wolferton before running on strongly and with new headgear in play today, might make a decent fist of things if getting away on an even keel from what is not an ideal draw.