17:15 Thirsk

Saturday 9 September 2017

All13:4514:1514:5015:3016:0516:4017:1517:45

Calverts Carpets Hambleton Cup Handicap

Off time: 17:15 | Winning time: 2m 43.64s

(6)

Be Perfect^b¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-12| J: J Garritty| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 84| D

33/1

Popped up to win over this trip at Hamilton in early July on good ground, though that effort has been in splendid isolation compared with what came before and in three runs since. Looks one to swerve again.

Form: 901469

(5)

Icefall³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Cam Hardie| T: T D Easterby| OR: 83| D

40/1

Won over this trip a year ago at Beverley (good to firm) from a 1lb higher mark, ridden prominently both starts this term and faded out of contention, most recently over this trip at Pontefract 31 day ago.

Form: 7210-55

(8)

Chancery^p²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-10| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 82| D

9/1

No win since October 2015 (20 runs) but has often put together a decent challenge in that sequence, while also chucking in the towel at times. Mark has fallen 16lb as a result, drops back from 1m6f latest and not improbable he'll run a big race.

Form: 463244

(10)

Craggaknock⁸⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Jason Hart| T: M Walford| OR: 81| CD

12/1

Last won on the Flat over this trip at Haydock in May 2015 off a mark of 77, mostly been toiling over jumps this year (well beaten on AW at Newcastle in March) and has plenty against him for now.

Form: 42/425-5

(1)

Henry Smith^b,e/s⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Lewis Edmunds⁽³⁾| T: J R Weymes| OR: 81| D

25/1

Beaten 8L on soft ground at Ripon in July over this trip on first start for new yard, off since. This will likely require a career-best effort to score.

Form: 33137-4

(3)

Swaheen^p²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Joe Doyle| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 80| D

6/1

Just 1lb higher than when scoring at Carlisle in June on soft ground over trip just shy of this one. Handles any ground and ran well for a long way at Haydock last month in better grade than this.

Form: 671054

(2)

Royal Shaheen^v¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Barry McHugh| T: A C Whillans| OR: 78

10/1

Sole success from 15 starts came over 1m at Ayr in July in low-grade affair. Stamina for this trip is yet to be proven (never raced beyond 1m2½f) and on balance looks opposable.

Form: 631633

(11)

Highland Castle^t²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-3| J: Neil Farley| T: L Egerton| OR: 75| D

125/1

Has shown some useful form in the past when he was with David Elsworth but hasn't won since 2015 and isn't in any sort of format the moment despite a falling handicap mark.

Form: 633-966

(4)

Lopes Dancer⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: J Fanning| T: Sally Haynes| OR: 74

16/1

First two starts for this handler had some promise to them, but a total no show at Pontefract in July over 1m2½f when encountering soft ground, today's conditions may not suit and doesn't make significant appeal in any case.

Form: 3-16648

(7)

Barwell²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Callum Rodriguez⁽⁵⁾| T: M Dods| OR: 81| BF

11/10

Lightly-raced gelding has been a revelation since going handicapping, winning at Ripon and Haydock, just held since at Doncaster (all 1m2f). Well worth a try over this longer journey from 2lb higher mark having finished powerfully last time out.

Form: 363112

(9)

Sheriff Of Nawton¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: T Hamilton| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 70| D

13/2

Done well returning from 534-day layoff for this yard, consistent efforts gaining their rewards with game Carlisle win over just shy of this trip on good to soft 11 days ago. Up the minimum for that win, this is tougher but is considered.

Form: 084351

Forecasts

Barwell (11/10), Swaheen (6/1), Sheriff Of Nawton (13/2), Chancery (9/1), Royal Shaheen (10/1), Craggaknock (12/1), Lopes Dancer (16/1), Henry Smith (25/1), Be Perfect (33/1), Icefall (40/1), Highland Castle (125/1)

BARWELL has being going from strength to strength for Michael Dods since switching to handicaps. He was denied a hat-trick at Doncaster last time but would likely have got up granted a few more strides having been under pressure 2f out. This longer trip looks ideal and with a 5lb claim to boost his prospects and a chance of further improvement, he is hard to oppose now. Sheriff Of Nawton has been revived under this handler after a long layoff, gaining a deserved Carlisle success last time and can go well again while Swaheen went well for a long way at Haydock last time in a better grade than this and demands respect. Royal Shaheen must prove stamina but would have some claims if seeing this out while Chancery is by no means out of this on a going day.