Archerfield Cup Handicap

Off time: 16:01 | Winning time: 3m 0.37s

(2)

Yorkidding⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 98| D

11/4

Chester Cup runner-up who went one better at Haydock off this mark. Highly tried since but this is more her level and, Chester apart, she has looked a better horse in smaller fields. Stable in form and rider/trainer combination have a 25 percent strike rate around here including wins in this race in 2013 and 2014.

Form: 231850

(3)

Kensington Star^p²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Jason Hart| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 87| D

5/2

Waiting tactics over a shorter trip on soft ground probably combined for a below-par effort last time. An excellent fourth in the Northumberland Plate consolation prior to that followed his early season exploits that had yielded two wins and three seconds. Weighted to reverse June placings with Great Fighter provided his last run does not reflect the effects of a tough campaign.

Form: 221246

(1)

Great Fighter^v²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Phil Dennis⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 85| CD

9/2

The slow pace would have counted against him at York last time having picked up his two previous races around here. Has work to do to confirm June placings with Kensington Star and there is no promise he will get the gallop he needs.

Form: 04-6115

(5)

Codeshare¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: D Allan| T: Sally Haynes| OR: 84

10/1

Winner of a couple of races at Newcastle during the winter and has found the softer conditions against him lately. Overall form leaves him short of what is required here.

Form: 134283

(6)

Sebastian's Wish¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: G Lee| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 83| CD

5/2

Three wins from four runs here in 2017 have earned him the right to go for this good prize. Much more needed and he looks held by Great Fighter. Looks the most likely pacemaker in a race laden with horses who need to attack off a decent pace and there is a chance he could get a soft lead.

Form: 0-11131

Non-Runners

(4)

Tawdeea¹⁴

Weight: 10-0| Age: 5

T: D O'Meara J: D Tudhope

Forecasts

Sebastian's Wish (5/2), Kensington Star (5/2), Yorkidding (11/4), Great Fighter (9/2), Tawdeea (7/1), Codeshare (10/1)

A case can be made for most of these with Sebastian's Wish appealing as the potential pace angle and having won here three times this term. Tawdeea has been hit and miss this term but is weighted to be competitive if anywhere near his best. Kensington Star and Great Fighter have had busy campaigns which may be catching up with them but both seem to like it around here.. YORKIDDING won off this mark in May having earlier finished second in the Chester Cup. She looks better handicapped than most in this and more tactically versatile. The stable have a good record in this race and she is a worthy selection.