14:45 York

Friday 13 October 2017

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0517:35

unibet.co.uk Handicap

Off time: 14:47 | Winning time: 1m 37.46s

(1)

Cote d'Azur¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: J Fanning| T: J L Eyre| OR: 96| C| D

9/1

Ran a mighty race when headed well inside the final furlong to finish just under 2L third to Dolphin Vista in the Cambridgeshire Handicap at Newmarket last month (1m1f good to soft). Up 3lb, but an obvious player.

Form: 160673

(4)

Zabeel Prince²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: S De Sousa| T: R Varian| OR: 96| D

15/8

Successful in both starts in 2017, and developing into a late maturing, progressive four-year-old. Took a 1m soft ground Yarmouth handicap in a most striking manner latest, and whilst this is much tougher under a 10lb rise, he commands respect.

Form: 2-11

(16)

Zwayyan^b⁷^{(ex 6)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: A Kirby| T: W J Haggas| OR: 90| D

10/1

A four time career winner over this kind of trip, and scored in the first time blinkers at Ascot last Friday (idled) by a neck, beating One Word More. That success came in a class 3 classified stakes, and this looks tougher.

Form: 013441

(17)

Steel Train¹⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Shelley Birkett⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 95| D

50/1

Absent since May when finishing down the field in the Victoria Cup at Ascot (7f good to firm), so it will take a phenomenal training performance to produce this five time career winner in the kind of shape which will see him competitive.

Form: 007080

(9)

Bravery¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 95| D

11/1

A winner on debut for this trainer in the Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster in April (1m good to soft), and has predictably been aimed high since, including in the Group 3 Earl Of Sefton, the Royal Hunt Cup and the Cambridgeshire latest (13th of 34).

Form: 009770

(14)

Tha'ir^p¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: B A Curtis| T: M Appleby| OR: 95

33/1

Godolphin cast off who has been raced sparingly since winning in Turkey in September 2015. Couldn't have joined shrewder connections, and will win races, but no show just yet and only 27th of 34 in the Cambridgeshire latest.

Form: 171/9-00

(18)

Classic Seniority¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Barry McHugh| T: Mrs Marjorie Fife| OR: 93| C| D

66/1

2016 Ayr Bronze Cup winner who has probably been trained with late season targets on the agenda. Successful twice more in late July (Doncaster and Hamilton), but up the weights and slightly vulnerable over this trip.

Form: 150029

(3)

Quixote^t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Cam Hardie| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 93| D

50/1

Remains 4lb above his last winning mark (Haydock in April), and has under-performed in both starts since leaving the care of David Loughnane.

Form: 8-45100

(6)

Home Cummins^p⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 92| CD

9/1

Mare who goes well at York, with her form figures here since July 2016 reading; 1,2,11,7,2. Beaten a head by Highland Colori off a very similar mark in this contest in 2016, she's showed her well being of late and holds every chance today.

Form: 367422

(20)

Baraweez³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Ben Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 92| D

20/1

His last success came at Galway (August 2015), when winning the 7f Ahonoora Handicap for the second successive year, but that left him on a tough mark. Runner up to stablemate Dream Walker in 2017, and much more competitive now from a lesser mark.

Form: 062448

(15)

Just Hiss^p¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 90| CD

10/1

4lb higher than when winning over C&D in early July (beat Truth Or Dare by 1L), but that doesn't necessarily look beyond him based upon his subsequent fourth to Chiefofchiefs. Place prospects.

Form: 465B63

(11)

Truth Or Dare³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: K Stott| T: J D Bethell| OR: 90| D

20/1

In excellent order this summer, and since his C&D second to Just Hiss in July, he has won a 7f class 3 handicap at Glorious Goodwood (soft). Finished fifth at Ascot most latterly and perhaps a fraction high in the weights now, but solid overall.

Form: 322175

(7)

Nicholas T¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: J P Sullivan| T: J S Goldie| OR: 90| D

25/1

Won twice from lower marks at Ayr (1m good) earlier in the year, and tough for the majority of the summer, with a strong showing at Ascot in mid August (Shergar Cup Mile runner up). Down the field in the Cambridgeshire latest (26th of 34).

Form: 730290

(13)

Mon Beau Visage^p⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Shane Gray| T: D O'Meara| OR: 88| D

33/1

One of a number of runners for this trainer. Won a couple of competitive 1m handicaps in Yorkshire in quick succession in August (Thirsk and Redcar), but not quite as strong more latterly, and no slight easing of his mark just yet.

Form: 331105

(19)

Two For Two^p⁴⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 8-13| J: T Hamilton| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 88| D

66/1

A six time career winner, but at the age of nine isn't the force of old. Successful at Ayr in mid July (1m) and races from the same mark, but this is a far deeper contest.

Form: 194387

(8)

One Word More^h⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: Rachel Richardson⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 87| D

10/1

Has a healthy turnaround at the weights with idling winner Zwayyan (for a neck) at Ascot last Friday, but similar comments apply with regards this being a stronger contest. That said; it makes obvious sense to race quickly before being re-assessed.

Form: 050572

(12)

Zodiakos^p⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Ben Sanderson⁽⁷⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 86| D

50/1

A much improved performer this summer winning three races (Ayr, Beverley and Redcar). However, 4lb above his last winning mark, and yet to score above a class 4 handicap.

Form: 115186

(5)

Mohab³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 86

33/1

Versatile, with career successes on his CV over 7f (Catterick) and 1m1f (Hamilton). Something to find with the likes of Just Hiss, Truth or Dare and Home Cummins based upon his C&D ninth of 14 in early July.

Form: 529193

(10)

Highland Colori^b¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 8-10| J: F Norton| T: A M Balding| OR: 85| CD

10/1

2013 Ayr Gold Cup winner who also enjoyed a big day when taking this contest by a head from Home Cummins off a 10lb lower mark in 2016. Not so good since then and maybe age is his enemy now, but ran okay at Newmarket latest (far side group).

Form: 467544

(2)

Boots And Spurs^v¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 8-7| J: Jamie Gormley⁽⁷⁾| T: S Dixon| OR: 77| D

66/1

Been around a few yards during his career (once with Karl Burke), and definite claims as such based upon his summer form with Just Hiss and Home Cummins etc, but dismal in September, so perhaps he's slowly training off for the year.

Form: 343500

Forecasts

Zabeel Prince (15/8), Home Cummins (9/1), Cote d'Azur (9/1), Zwayyan (10/1), Just Hiss (10/1), Highland Colori (10/1), One Word More (10/1), Bravery (11/1), Baraweez (20/1), Truth Or Dare (20/1), Nicholas T (25/1), Mohab (33/1), Mon Beau Visage (33/1), Tha'ir (33/1), Quixote (50/1), Steel Train (50/1), Zodiakos (50/1), Boots And Spurs (66/1), Classic Seniority (66/1), Two For Two (66/1)

An absolutely tremendous Class 2 handicap which is deserving of star-billing on a Saturday, let alone a Friday, and one final opportunity for a group of battle hardened York regulars to strut their stuff in 2017. The likes of Just Hiss, Truth or Dare, and in particular Home Cummins are all rock solid propositions on the Knavesmire, and the last named proved just that when going under by a head to the veteran Highland Colori in this contest last year. Cote d'Azur comes into the race from a 3lb higher mark than when producing a mighty effort to finish third in the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket last month, whilst Lincoln winner Bravery shouldn't be underestimated as the pick of the O'Meara runners. Zabeel Prince is evidently the unexposed progressive horse, and it would be folly to write off his claims, despite a 10lb higher mark for his Yarmouth romp, but it is BARAWEEZ who rates as the selection. Although the Ahonoora Handicap at Galway in August is his annual Gold Cup, he races from a reduced mark nowadays and is worth chancing in an excellent race.