20:00 York

Friday 28 July 2017

All18:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Tom Parsons Memorial Handicap

Off time: 20:02 | Winning time: 1m 38.77s

(8)

Kharbetation³⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 93| D

7/2

Never raced when with Roger Varian, but that did not stop him scoring for this yard first time out at Thirsk (1m, good) almost a year ago by 5L. Runner-up that day won next time by 5L himself and is rated 83, so this gelding is probably fairly treated on that evidence. Market check strongly advised on this handicap debut.

Form: 1-

(10)

Innocent Touch⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 92

8/1

All of his winning form has been over further than this and he drops to 1m for the first time since 2013. Has been in good form over 1m2f, including here, already this term and if he gets the strong pace he will need, then he might have an each-way squeak. Acts on any ground.

Form: 0-37624

(14)

Instant Attraction²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: J Garritty| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 90| BF| D

10/1

Both turf wins have been on soft ground, so definitely wants some rain to be seen to best effect. Has dropped 9lb for four defeats this season and was clearly fancied over C&D last time, when a disappointing 5-1 joint favourite. Has a bit to prove, but a serious player if the ground turns soft.

Form: 70-0790

(13)

Calder Prince²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Patrick Pilley⁽⁵⁾| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 90| D

11/2

Scored at Haydock (1m, good to firm) last time, for which he has gone up 4lb. Has recorded back-to-back wins before and also won from higher marks than this, so with his claimer up to negate the rise, he is entitled to plenty of respect again.

Form: 648021

(2)

Lord Of The Rock¹¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods| OR: 90| D

17/2

33-1 and beaten 17L on his seasonal reappearance at Doncaster (1m, good to soft) in April in the Spring Mile, a race that he had won first time out last season. Handicapper has dropped him 3lb for that, making him 2lb higher than last year's success and he may now get closer to the action again.

Form: 10/100-0

(5)

Home Cummins^p¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 90| CD

7/1

Won over C&D (good) last year and all turf wins have been or good or faster ground. 3lb higher than that success here last year and has already been a disappointing joint favourite at the track this term (from 2lb higher). Ran well in a Listed Pontefract race last time and is capable, though not easy to catch right.

Form: 003674

(6)

Two For Two^p¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-10| J: Connor Beasley| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 90| D

14/1

Up 2lb for winning at Ayr (1m, good) last time in a weaker race than this. Would have claims of a follow-up if able to reproduce his abilities of a couple of years ago, but recent evidence suggests that such a task may just be beyond him these days.

Form: 622091

(4)

Gulf Of Poets²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Cam Hardie| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 90| BF

14/1

Reeled off four successive wins to kick-off 2017, all at trips between 1m1f-1m2f. Handles most ground, though was well held from this mark when dropped to 1m½f at Hamilton (soft) last time and from the same mark, he looks in need of a career best to win again.

Form: 8-11114

(11)

Gabrial's Kaka²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Adam J McNamara⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 83| D

20/1

All his wins have been at around this sort of trip, those on turf being on good or faster ground, so rain would not be ideal for him, although he has been placed with cut in the ground. On the slide this season and although he has done well from higher marks, this is competitive enough to suddenly halt that poor run.

Form: 6-00875

(1)

Boots And Spurs^v²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: George Buckell⁽⁵⁾| T: S Dixon| OR: 82| D

14/1

At his best on good or softer ground and over this sort of trip. Won on good to soft at Ripon (1m) in a similar contest last month (when 4lb lower) and ran a nice race over C&D last time. Could go well at a price.

Form: 241783

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to all bets - deduction 15p in the pound

Non-Runners

(9)

Manson²⁰

Weight: 10-0| Age: 4

T: D J S Ffrench Davis J: Oisin Murphy

(7)

One Word More¹³

Weight: 9-12| Age: 7

T: T D Easterby J: D Allan

(3)

Candelisa³⁴

Weight: 9-11| Age: 4

T: Jedd O'Keeffe J: G Lee

(12)

Palmerston⁷

Weight: 9-2| Age: 4

T: M Appleby J: Alistair Rawlinson

Forecasts

Kharbetation (7/2), Calder Prince (11/2), Candelisa (11/2), Home Cummins (7/1), Innocent Touch (8/1), Manson (8/1), Lord Of The Rock (17/2), Instant Attraction (10/1), Boots And Spurs (14/1), Gulf Of Poets (14/1), Two For Two (14/1), Palmerston (14/1), One Word More (14/1), Gabrial's Kaka (20/1)

Kharbetation is the unknown quantity here and, while he may be good enough to make a winning handicap debut from a mark of 93, there are not too many who do that, so perhaps he is best watched unless the market speaks very strongly for him. Richard Fahey's pair Innocent Touch and Home Cummins are both up to this if at their best on the day, while Instant Attraction would be popular if the ground turns softer. ONE WORD MORE now drops into a weaker contest than last time and he may be worth chancing in an open event, while Boots And Spurs is another for each-way players and Calder Prince cannot be ruled out.