15:00 York

Thursday 24 August 2017

All13:5514:2515:0015:3516:1516:50

Clipper Logistics Handicap

Off time: 15:02 | Winning time: 1m 41.27s

(6)

Firmament⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 109| CD

12/1

Three-time winner last year, including this contest, but hasn't been able to find his best stuff this term so far. Rated 13lb higher than 12 months ago and faces stiff task.

Form: 325655

(15)

Victory Bond²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: P Cosgrave| T: W J Haggas| OR: 107

8/1

Regular round here, ran well in Listed C&D event in May and gone well again over further in two runs since. High enough in the weights now but likely to give his running once more.

Form: 164-374

(19)

Blair House^p1²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 102| BF| D

12/1

Runner-up in the Hunt Cup at Ascot in June, since run fair race at Goodwood. First-time cheekpieces may bring out a bit more now and worth considering.

Form: 0212-20

(4)

Flaming Spear²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: R Winston| T: K A Ryan| OR: 101| C| D

10/1

Didn't run badly last month at Ascot on seasonal bow in big-field 7f handicap. Denied clear run and entitled to have needed that outing in any case. Record on turf not inspiring.

Form: 0001-19

(17)

Mythical Madness^v²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: P Makin| T: D O'Meara| OR: 100| D

33/1

Successful over 1m at Haydock (good) in June and put a couple of disappointing efforts behind him when not beaten far in a valuable soft ground 1m contest at Goodwood last time out. Visor back on here.

Form: 021009

(3)

G K Chesterton^p²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Martin Lane| T: C Appleby| OR: 99| D

25/1

First three runs this term were excellent, winning at Newmarket and Epsom over this sort of trip. Couple of forgettable efforts since, handles any ground and trainer's recent 30% strike rate in his favour.

Form: 7-21100

(1)

Bravery²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: R Kingscote| T: D O'Meara| OR: 99| D

20/1

Won the Lincoln on debut for this trainer but not threatened to add to his tally in five further outings including over C&D in May. Bit to prove at the moment but clearly not ruled out on best form.

Form: 178009

(12)

El Vip⁶⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: J P Spencer| T: L M Cumani| OR: 99| D

10/1

Lightly-raced and clearly a talented performer when it all drops right, as evidenced by an impressive win on the AW at Newcastle in June. Never able to get competitive in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot last time though, and still has a bit to prove.

Form: 31-3010

(2)

Chelsea Lad⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: M Meade| OR: 98| BF| D

6/1

Lightly-raced gelding has been out of the money just once in six career starts, ran fine race over C&D in May behind Here Comes When and rates a leading contender now off 2lb higher.

Form: 1/21-P23

(5)

Qassem¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Josephine Gordon| T: H Palmer| OR: 98| D

10/1

French import hasn't enjoyed a lot of luck since arriving on these shores. Improved on the AW at Chelmsford last time out when dropped to this trip and well worth noting in the betting for this prize.

Form: 1238-51

(18)

Big Baz⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: D C Costello| T: W R Muir| OR: 98| D

40/1

Unreliable sort who has been badly out of form since 2015 when he landed a couple of Listed contests. Could bounce back at some stage but looks a little more effective on the AW than turf and of more interest when returned to that sphere.

Form: 48-0950

(7)

Ronald R⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: R L Moore| T: M L W Bell| OR: 104| BF| D

6/1

Juvenile winner who also scored at Newmarket on his reappearance (1m, good to firm) before pushing Bless Him close in the Britannia handicap at Royal Ascot. Disappointing since at Newmarket but booking of Moore catches the eye.

Form: 318-126

(13)

El Hayem⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: L Dettori| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 96| D

10/1

Back to form at Sandown last time, winning over this trip off a mark of 92. Up 4lb here but may well still have more to come. Dettori back on board here.

Form: 29-6201

(8)

Baraweez¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: Fran Berry| T: B Ellison| OR: 95| D

20/1

Out of form in two runs here earlier in the season, showed a bit more in pair of Galway Festival outings in Ireland lately but remains with work to do.

Form: 580062

(11)

Northgate Lad²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Ben Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 95

50/1

Ran well over 6f here on soft ground in May, warmed up for this with pleasing AW success at Newcastle recently and with trainer in excellent form a big showing isn't ruled out.

Form: 634021

(10)

Quixote¹¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: Jim Crowley| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 95| D

25/1

Victorious at Haydock in Class 2 handicap over a mile in April on good to firm, has since joined this yard and is an interesting contender now carrying his penalty.

Form: 788-451

(16)

One Word More^h²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 8-7| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 92| D

10/1

Without a win since 2015 and not easy to catch right but feasibly-treated on his very best form and ran well enough over this trip at Goodwood on good to soft last time.

Form: 66-7405

Non-Runners

(14)

Oh This Is Us²³

Weight: 9-9| Age: 4

T: R Hannon J: S M Levey

(20)

Laidback Romeo⁶⁸

Weight: 8-13| Age: 5

T: C G Cox J: G Mosse

(9)

War Department⁹

Weight: 8-8| Age: 4

T: K Dalgleish J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Chelsea Lad (6/1), Ronald R (6/1), Victory Bond (8/1), Flaming Spear (10/1), Qassem (10/1), El Hayem (10/1), One Word More (10/1), El Vip (10/1), Firmament (12/1), Blair House (12/1), Oh This Is Us (16/1), Laidback Romeo (16/1), Baraweez (20/1), Bravery (20/1), G K Chesterton (25/1), Quixote (25/1), Mythical Madness (33/1), War Department (33/1), Big Baz (40/1), Northgate Lad (50/1)

A fiendishly tough handicap, CHELSEA LAD is given the nod to come home in front. He's been very consistent in six career runs and showed a liking for this C&D in May when finding only Here Comes When too good in a Listed contest. The better ground here won't be any barrier for him and he should be in the firing line. Hunt Cup second Blair House ought to be on the premises, especially if new cheekpieces bring out improvement while the ultra-consistent Laidback Romeo is also greatly respected despite racing from a career-high mark. Oh This Is Us, dropping in class, G K Chesterton, Qassem, Ronald R and Quixote are others worth paying attention to in what should be an informative betting market.