15:00 York

Saturday 26 August 2017

All13:5514:2515:0015:3516:1016:4017:15

Al Basti Equiworld Gimcrack Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 1m 11.16s

(6)

Cardsharp²³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: James Doyle| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 110| BF| D

5/1

July Stakes winner who has also run well in big juvenile 6f contests at Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood. Probably needs fast ground to be at his best but has proven himself at this level already.

Form: 421313

(11)

Frozen Angel¹³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 108

6/1

Has played a small part in a few Pattern races up to now, including when not far behind Sioux Nation in the Phoenix at the Curragh latest. This may be easier, but he still ha something to find with the best of these.

Form: 912425

(7)

Headway²³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: Harry Bentley| T: W J Haggas| OR: 107| D

9/2

Probably found out by the soft ground at Goodwood last time when failing to build on the promise of his Coventry Stakes second. This seems to be his ideal trip and he brings solid Group-level form into the race.

Form: 2126

(10)

Invincible Army²⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: M Harley| T: J Tate| OR: 103| BF| D

9/2

Not far behind Cardsharp in the July stakes and not beaten far in the Molecomb either, and possible that he has a good juvenile race in him before the end of the season. Improvement is obviously required, though.

Form: 2142

(9)

Nebo²³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: C Hills| OR: 109| D

9/2

Ahead of Headway at Goodwood last time but was suited by the soft ground there. Has also run well on good to firm but unlikely to be able to show his best in these conditions, though further improvement is possible.

Form: 1922

(8)

Nobleman's Nest²⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: D Tudhope| T: S & E Crisford| D

10/1

Justified short-priced favouritism over this trip at Newmarket last time, but that victory was some way off the required quality for this race, and others hold more convincing claims.

Form: 21

(4)

Sands Of Mali²³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| D

14/1

Off the mark in a Nottingham maiden last time and takes the big step up in class to Group 2 company now. Unexposed but needs to show plenty of progression in order to get involved here, now on a likely sounder surface.

Form: 71

(12)

Staxton¹⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 88| D

10/1

Has been running well in novice company up to now but has looked short of Group-quality, and has something to prove up against some very talented juveniles.

Form: 121

(3)

Stormbringer²⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| D

16/1

Off the mark at Redcar when last seen at the beginning of the month (6f, good to soft), but likely to be out of his depth here and could be better over further in time.

Form: 31

(1)

That's A Surprise⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: Barry McHugh| T: T Coyle & K Wood

100/1

Made a winning debut at Beverley last month but failed to build on that in an ordinary novice event at Thirsk over this trip and seems to be a long way below the standard set here.

Form: 17

Non-Runners

(5)

De Bruyne Horse²

Weight: 9-0| Age: 2

T: R Hannon J: K T O'Neill

(2)

Grand Koonta⁴⁴

Weight: 9-0| Age: 2

T: C G Cox J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Invincible Army (9/2), Headway (9/2), Nebo (9/2), Cardsharp (5/1), Frozen Angel (6/1), Staxton (10/1), Nobleman's Nest (10/1), Sands Of Mali (14/1), Stormbringer (16/1), De Bruyne Horse (20/1), Grand Koonta (25/1), That's A Surprise (100/1)

There a few performers proven at this level in the field, none more so than CARDSHARP. Mark Johnston's colt took the July Stakes at Newmarket, also a Group 2, in between running very well in the July Stakes and Richmond Stakes, the latter of which was probably run on ground too soft for him. Returning to what should be a sound surface here he is taken to get the better of Headway, who equally found the soft ground at Goodwood to be an issue, and Invincible Army, who continues to look full of promise following two recent defeats in Group company.