13:55 York

Friday 25 August 2017

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

Sky Bet First Race Special Handicap

Off time: 13:57 | Winning time: 2m 30.13s

(16)

Appeared²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 104| BF| CD

6/1

C&D winner in 2016 and won over this trip at Ascot on seasonal return. Runner-up at the Royal meeting but not as good last time out. May have finished closer without interference but suspicion remains he's better on quick ground.

Form: 193-125

(10)

Red Galileo²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: D Tudhope| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 102

7/1

Won for the first time in over three years at Meydan this year and finished 2½L in front of Appeared when runner-up at Ascot last time. Arrives on 6lb worse terms here though and had a better trip than that rival so may struggle to confirm the form.

Form: 5/13782

(14)

Erik The Red^p²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 100

6/1

In fine form in 2015 but became a little frustrating to follow last year. Back to something like his best last time at Doncaster but back up in trip now and finds himself in a deeper contest off 6lb higher.

Form: 72-6901

(11)

Fidaawy²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Jim Crowley| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 98

11/1

Unreliable but has plenty of ability when he's on a going day. Impressive winner on seasonal return at Doncaster but well beaten in two starts subsequently. Perhaps had excuses last time and yard had a winner here Wednesday so can't be discounted.

Form: 145-107

(15)

Master Of Finance¹¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: G Lee| T: J M Jefferson| OR: 95

50/1

Has proved a little disappointing since switching yards and campaigning over hurdles but did win off a 1lb lower mark than this for Mark Johnston. Probably needs more rainfall to be seen at his best and has an absence to overcome.

Form: 090206-

(13)

Mukhayyam^p¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 94| CD

14/1

C&D winner last month who followed up with a win at Ripon subsequently. Ran well in defeat at the Shergar Cup having gone too hard up front and may not be done progressing just yet. Should run well with his regular jockey back in the saddle.

Form: 220115

(7)

Speedo Boy⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: S De Sousa| T: Ian Williams| OR: 100

13/2

Won a Listed race in France on heavy ground earlier in the season and may have found conditions too quick on his most recent starts back here. Could find this more to his liking, handicap mark looks fair and it's an eye-catching jockey booking.

Form: 121267

(6)

Al Neksh⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: L Dettori| T: W J Haggas| OR: 91| BF

9/1

Won three times last year and kept on well to finish runner-up here over 1m2f in May. Disappointing at Newmarket last time out but could improve for the step up in trip and trainer has a fine record here, particularly at this meeting.

Form: 1014-26

(2)

Moonmeister^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: Fran Berry| T: A J Martin| OR: 90| D

20/1

Habitual slow starter who won for the first time since 2015 at Cork this season. Yard's runners warrant respected here and jockey has a 17.43% strike-rate for this trainer but may struggle off a career high mark and can't give this field a start.

Form: 207-109

(8)

Amazing Red²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: P Mulrennan| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 90| D

12/1

Seen to good effect on his last two runs, both at Newmarket and appreciated softer ground last time, finishing off his race well to score over this trip. Still unexposed and may be able to progress again off just a 4lb higher mark.

Form: 61-3691

(9)

Landsman^t³³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: P Hanagan| T: A J Martin| OR: 88| D

14/1

Justified favouritism to win at Fairyhouse last time out in an apprentice handicap. Up 6lb for that and this looks a much tougher race but yard's runners have to be respected when sent here and he could improve.

Form: 328-561

(5)

Dance King^p,t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 8-7| J: J P Sullivan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 87| D

25/1

Ended a losing run when back in the winner's enclosure at Carlisle in June but well beaten last time at Haydock. Has run well here in the past and yard are in excellent form, having a winner here Wednesday, but he's never won off a mark this high.

Form: 243418

(3)

Londinium²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 94| BF| D

6/1

Two wins from four starts as a juvenile and seems to be improving over further this season. Very impressive when winning at the Goodwood Festival and not beaten far under a penalty later that week. 4lb rise demands more but he is still unexposed.

Form: 31-2312

(1)

Song Of Love^p¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-0| J: Richard Oliver⁽⁵⁾| T: S A Harris| OR: 70| D

100/1

A three-time winner on the AW when trained in Ireland, he's shown very little for this stable in his four runs for them. Hard to fancy from well out of the handicap.

Form: 188946

Non-Runners

(12)

Manjaam¹³

Weight: 8-12| Age: 4

T: E A L Dunlop J: L Morris

(4)

Game Starter²¹

Weight: 8-11| Age: 3

T: S bin Suroor J: P Cosgrave

Forecasts

Erik The Red (6/1), Londinium (6/1), Appeared (6/1), Game Starter (6/1), Speedo Boy (13/2), Red Galileo (7/1), Al Neksh (9/1), Fidaawy (11/1), Amazing Red (12/1), Landsman (14/1), Mukhayyam (14/1), Moonmeister (20/1), Dance King (25/1), Manjaam (33/1), Master Of Finance (50/1), Song Of Love (100/1)

AMAZING RED and Game Starter are both entirely unexposed and narrow preference is for the former who only goes up 4lb for his latest win. Mukhayyam was better than the bare result suggested in the Shergar Cup last time and should do better with David Allan taking back over in the saddle.