15:55 York

Friday 13 October 2017

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

Unibet Handicap

Off time: 15:58 | Winning time: 3m 1.02s

(13)

Face The Facts¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 104

8/1

Showed stamina in spades to wear down Nearly Caught in the Listed Jockey Club Rose Bowl Stakes at Newmarket last month (2m good to soft), but whilst lightly raced is dropped in trip at a less testing track and concedes weight to all of his rivals.

Form: 148621

(3)

Gold Star³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: David Egan⁽³⁾| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 101

4/1

Seemingly improving at a rate of knots, having won his last two races, including his handicap debut on Tapeta at Wolverhampton early last month (1m4f). However, is up 13lb, and in trip against much stronger rivals.

Form: 311

(5)

Joshua Reynolds^b³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Robert Tart| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 93| BF| D

10/1

Made an immediate impact when switched to handicaps, winning his first two starts (Newmarket 1m5f, and Sandown 1m6f). Finished behind runner up Face The Facts when only seventh to Taxmeifyoucan at Haydock latest, but that was on very deep ground.

Form: 5-53117

(8)

Dominating⁷^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 86| D

12/1

Still progressing and bettered his Newcastle third in September (to Waiting for Riche) when gamely edging out Altaayil over 2m at Ascot last Friday. Dropped in trip under a penalty and returns to York after contesting the Melrose in August (tenth).

Form: 120231

(6)

Brimham Rocks⁴⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: R Kingscote| T: R M Beckett| OR: 91

16/1

Progressed massively this summer since winning from a mark of just 62 at Wolverhampton in May. However, no match for Sepal at Hamilton (1m4f soft) latest, and 2lb higher (up in trip) making this his toughest assignment yet.

Form: 614102

(10)

The Grand Visir^p⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: S De Sousa| T: W J Haggas| OR: 91

10/3

Lightly raced, but a dual winner over 1m4f prior to contesting the Melrose Handicap over C&D in August. Ran a blinder for one so inexperienced to finish fifth of 12 to Secret Advisor and returns off the same mark.

Form: 16415

(7)

Percy's Word⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Ryan Powell| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 89

25/1

Both of his successes have come on the Polytrack at Kempton, and he took a step forward off a four month break to score by 1¾L from Nadiatak on his first try at 2m in August. No worries with this trip, but effectiveness on turf unproven.

Form: 1-31

(4)

Star Of The East¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-3| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 86| D

20/1

Gamely denied the five timer seeking Sepal when scoring by 1L at Haydock in late September (1m6f heavy), and like his stablemate Dominating appears as tough as old boots. 3lb higher, but much respected.

Form: D25441

(2)

Star Rock²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: K T O'Neill| T: H Morrison| OR: 85

11/2

On the up since upped in trip to 1m4f and no reason as to why another two furlongs can't bring about further improvement. 5lb higher than when accounting for subsequent Newmarket scorer Cribbs Causeway latest, and ground conditions pose no concerns.

Form: 45-211

(9)

Bolder Bob²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-1| J: A Mullen| T: T D Barron| OR: 84

20/1

Progressive, and has tasted victory at a lower level in his last two starts (Leicester and Beverley). However, this looks an altogether tougher assignment from a 7lb higher mark, and whilst he's earned his place, he couldn't be the selection.

Form: 3-33411

(11)

Je Suis Charlie²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-1| J: P Hanagan| T: M L W Bell| OR: 84| BF

20/1

Lacks the scope to progress in comparison to some of the others, but has been holding his own in lower grade contests. A 5L winner at Catterick in August (1m4f good), he was just unable to follow up off 6lb higher back there latest. Up another 1lb.

Form: 327512

(1)

Fools And Kings²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-0| J: Hollie Doyle⁽³⁾| T: R Brisland| OR: 83

20/1

Progressive since winning an AW maiden in July (1m1½f), and struck in a 1m4f class 4 handicap at Chepstow latest. However, that bare form isn't good enough to compete here and he has a 5lb higher mark to defy.

Form: 5131

(12)

Count Simon¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-0| J: J Quinn| T: A M Balding| OR: 76

25/1

Had looked slow and one paced prior to getting off the mark at Haydock (1m4f heavy), and whilst there was no fluke about that success (made all), he possibly just handled the testing conditions better than the others. Up in grade, and raised 4lb.

Form: 224331

Forecasts

The Grand Visir (10/3), Gold Star (4/1), Star Rock (11/2), Face The Facts (8/1), Joshua Reynolds (10/1), Dominating (12/1), Brimham Rocks (16/1), Fools And Kings (20/1), Star Of The East (20/1), Je Suis Charlie (20/1), Bolder Bob (20/1), Percy's Word (25/1), Count Simon (25/1)

A strong handicap where just about every single runner can be considered as steadily progressive within their respective grades. The Mark Johnston trained pair are both hardy performers with last week's penalised Ascot scorer Dominating favoured over Haydock winner Star Of The East. The Grand Visir ran a blinder in the Melrose over C&D at the Ebor Festival in August (fifth) for one so inexperienced, and any gains will add to the push from William Haggas to become champion trainer on the Knavesmire for 2017. However, it is the sole filly in the line up, STAR ROCK who rates as the selection. She beat subsequent Newmarket winner Cribbs Causeway over 1m4f on her latest start, and therefore, a 5lb rise now appears incredibly lenient. Her trainer excels with these type of slow maturing horses, and she should relish the extra yardage now trying 1m6f for the first time.