13:55 York

Saturday 15 July 2017

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

John Smith's Racing Handicap

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 1m 37.56s

(2)

Arcanada¹⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Patrick Pilley⁽⁵⁾| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 105| CD

11/1

Can go well when fresh, although is yet to win after a break, which is the case here. Dropped 1lb since being a 2½L runner-up over this trip at Meydan (good) in February. Scored over C&D last season from 6lb lower and looks to have each-way claims from a good draw.

Form: 4116-04

(11)

Abe Lincoln^p,t²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: G Mosse| T: J Noseda| OR: 99| BF

13/2

Well held from this mark last time out in the Royal Hunt Cup, when sent off as the favourite. That was his first start since being short-headed at last year's Royal meeting in the Britannia. May still be more to come from this mark in first-time cheekpieces and not ruled out.

Form: 13/052-0

(13)

First Selection^e/s1²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: G Lee| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 98

33/1

Won four of his first five starts in 2015, but has yet to add any more successes to his CV. 2lb lower today than when well beaten in the Wokingham (6f) on his reappearance and arguably best over 7f. Eye shield fitted for first time today, but does need to show a bit more than he has in recent runs.

Form: 60-5500

(12)

Firnas^p1¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 95

13/2

Landed a Newmarket maiden (1m2f, good to firm) by 5L last year but was not seen again until last month, when well beaten as favourite. Put that behind him with a better effort last time and is well worth a try over this shorter trip as he does not look short of speed. Interesting in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 5/1-94

(15)

Constantino^b¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 94| D

11/1

Consistent performer who was rewarded for that with a win at Newcastle (1m, AW) last month. A 4lb rise for that looks fair, he acts on good ground although this is the fastest ground he has encountered and he has a poor draw to overcome. Will need to improve.

Form: 322-221

(9)

One Word More^h¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 93| D

11/1

Without a win since 2015 and currently 1lb higher than that last winning mark. Has run well here on fast ground before and showed signs of a resurgence last time at Newcastle, so from the same mark he has claims.

Form: 3466-74

(8)

Sir Roderic^p1¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: D Tudhope| T: B R Millman| OR: 93| BF| D

20/1

All his winning turf form has been on good or softer ground, but he ran well enough from this mark on faster ground at Sandown (1m) in May. First-time cheekpieces on today, which may eek out a little bit more. Not badly drawn and has to enter calculations.

Form: 0-00305

(5)

General Macarthur^t¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: D M Simcock| OR: 92| D

10/1

Won over this trip on good to firm at Navan last year from 1lb lower when with Aidan O'Brien. Has been competitive from 1lb higher in two similar races to this recently and looks booked for another good performance from a good draw.

Form: 0-97544

(6)

Kings Gift²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods| OR: 100

8/1

Won the only previous handicap that he has contested and returns to this sphere from Group company, where he hasn't got competitive this term. This is not as tough an assignment and coming from an in-form yard, he is entitled to plenty of respect.

Form: 172-499

(10)

Just Hiss^p¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Rachel Richardson⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 91| CD

9/1

Came back to form over C&D last time (good), when first-time cheekpieces helped him to score. Up 5lb for that, so he will need more to repeat the dose in this stronger race, but still not sure he is fully exposed and a big run would not surprise.

Form: 13-7681

(1)

Qaffaal¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Nathan Evans⁽³⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 91| D

20/1

Acts on fast ground and his last four wins have all been over this trip. Has been very competitive on the All Weather in three of his last four starts, all from today's mark. Tends to be held up, so whether he can use stall one to his advantage remains to be seen.

Form: 213633

(3)

Twin Appeal^b⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: A Mullen| T: T D Barron| OR: 91

25/1

Unexposed over this trip, with all his wins having been over 7f. Was a running-on second at Leicester last time out from today's mark, so a mile might be within range and he could go well from stall three.

Form: 576632

(14)

Weekend Offender¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 89| BF| CD

6/1

All wins have been over this trip, including over C&D in October from 3lb lower. Began this campaign with a good run at Nottingham, but was pulled up after a stalls injury at Hamilton last time. Looks like there may be more to come from him and if he can overcome the draw then he should be thereabouts.

Form: 1431-3P

(7)

Chiefofchiefs^p1¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: S Donohoe| T: C Fellowes| OR: 86| D

8/1

Won a 1m2f Windsor maiden in May (good) and has put in two decent handicaps runs since, winning last time at Kempton. Has gone up 5lb for that and also steps up in class. Cheekpieces now added, yard in form and likely strong pace should suit him here.

Form: 32-0121

Non-Runners

(4)

Gallipoli²⁸

Weight: 8-11| Age: 4

T: R A Fahey J: J Garritty

Forecasts

Weekend Offender (6/1), Firnas (13/2), Abe Lincoln (13/2), Chiefofchiefs (8/1), Kings Gift (8/1), Just Hiss (9/1), General Macarthur (10/1), Arcanada (11/1), One Word More (11/1), Constantino (11/1), Sir Roderic (20/1), Qaffaal (20/1), Gallipoli (20/1), Twin Appeal (25/1), First Selection (33/1)

A very competitive race with which to open the card and the suggestion is ONE WORD MORE. Tim Easterby keeps producing winners in these sort of contests at the track and although the draw could have been a bit more kind to him, the gelding goes on the ground and looked like he was returning to form last time. Chiefofchiefs is interesting now stepping up in class, but should give a good account and Weekend Offender looks like he still has improvement in him. Twin Appeal, General Macarthur and Kings Gift are others considered, while Abe Lincoln, First Selection and Firnas are others with claims in a contest that will take a bit of winning.