14:30 Thirsk

Saturday 21 April 2018

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:2517:55

Adie Shaw's Half Century Handicap

Off time: 14:31 | Winning time: 1m 14.31s

(15)

Dirchill²¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: B A Curtis| T: T D Barron| OR: 74| BF| D

10/1

Will be suited by this return to 6f after he was unsuited by the drop to the minimum trip on his final run last year. Has only won a maiden though and beaten twice off a 1lb higher mark already; high draw may be an advantage.

Form: 223136-

(12)

Start Time¹⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: L Morris| T: P T Midgley| OR: 73| C

20/1

Win his maiden here over 7f when he was with Godolphin but has only recorded one win since (followed up his maiden win). Looked to be getting back to form at the end of last year but his last run left a lot to be desired; returns from a break.

Form: 008038-

(7)

Suitcase 'n' Taxi¹⁹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 72| D

10/1

Inconsistent sort who did manage to win two handicaps last year off lower marks but ended the season poorly. Ran three times after his last win and disappointed in them all. Starts this season with questions against him but has run well fresh.

Form: 681758-

(16)

Cosmic Chatter^p⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 72| CD

14/1

C&D winner who was given a pipe-opener on the Fibresand recently but looked very rusty in that outing. Starts this season off a much lower mark than last and may be better back over 6f on turf.

Form: 74535-7

(4)

Majeste⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: P Makin| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 72| D

40/1

Well below form on her first outing for this new yard after arriving from Richard Hannon's yard. Was a useful sort as a juvenile and has plummeted down the weights but more needed to take a hand here on last showing.

Form: 66790-7

(2)

Kody Ridge⁷⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Cam Hardie| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 72| D

20/1

Really came on for his comeback run this year when winning at Southwell over this trip but ran no sort of race over the same C&D next time. Has won on turf though but off a lower mark and needs to bounce back here.

Form: 0526-10

(5)

Katheefa⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: J Garritty| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 72

8/1

A recent acquisition from the Charles Hills stable he's twice travelled well at Southwell although not quite finishing the race off. Looks as though he may be worth a try back at 5f given how well he goes through his races.

Form: 4419-65

(3)

Ventura Secret¹⁷⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Callum Rodriguez⁽³⁾| T: M Dods| OR: 72

11/2

Came good last season when with Tim Easterby winning three handicaps off escalating mark (last win off 67). Not in the quite the same form in his final two runs of the season and this is a shorter trip than all his wins.

Form: 173148-

(20)

Ballymore Castle^b³²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: N Wilson| OR: 71| D

33/1

Unreliable sort who has a poor strike-rate overall although he did win his last start (Newcastle 6f claimer). Has the class to win at that level but has flattered only to deceive on far too many occasions in handicaps.

Form: 51-0481

(10)

Brockholes¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: P Mulrennan| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 70

8/1

Two Fibresand efforts for this yard have offered enough to think that she has the ability to work with at this level. Just 1lb above her last winning mark she does only have one 7f win to her name but can't be ignored even over this trip.

Form: 006/4-33

(17)

Palenville²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: A Mullen| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 69| D

33/1

Despite finishing last over 7f on Tapeta last time after a 10-month break she travelled well into the race just looking as though the race was needed. She starts a turf campaign on a fair mark if she can find her previous form.

Form: 2/3244-9

(11)

Call Out Loud^t,v²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 69| D

8/1

A five-time winner on the AW last year he's much lower in the weights on turf than he is in that sphere but he did shape well over 7f last time. That run hinted that there may be better to come on turf although this may be on the short side.

Form: 160-346

(1)

Mr Orange^v1³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: D C Costello| T: P T Midgley| OR: 68| CD

18/1

6f is very much his trip as shown by his back-to-back wins over the distance last year. Tried over 7f on his reappearance (didn't get home) and this C&D winner is just below his last winning mark; visor on for the first time.

Form: 13577-9

(8)

Royal Connoisseur¹⁷²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 68| CD

10/1

Held his form well enough last year especially towards the end but failed to win at all having looked a sprinter on the up the year before. Has slipped to a handy mark if he's ready to go first time up; has won over C&D.

Form: 572345-

(14)

Benjamin Thomas^v¹⁸³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 67| D

14/1

Had a very simple task when getting off the mark in a weak Catterick maiden (6f, soft) last summer. Ended the season with two poor runs and work to do now on his return but does feature off a career-low mark.

Form: 192500-

(13)

Danish Duke^p¹⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: T Eaves| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 66| CD

33/1

One of three runners in the race for this yard he capitalised on a falling mark to score over C&D last August. Never managed to reach quite the same level although he remains around the same mark but may find 0-65 company easier.

Form: 449820-

(9)

Cliff²⁰³

Age: 8| Weight: 8-13| J: Faye McManoman⁽⁷⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 66| D

33/1

Ran some fair races last year being kept busy for much of it winning twice over this trip (has won over further). Not seen for quite some while though and may need this from what looks an awkward looking draw.

Form: 162635-

(18)

Indian Pursuit⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Ben Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 66| D

25/1

Went through a good spell last year when winning back-to-back handicaps but ran poorly after that. Looked as though he needed the run last time and remains just above his last winning mark returning to this 6f (his best trip).

Form: 50110-5

(19)

Lanjano^p⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 66| D

10/1

Yet to win a handicap and his mark is starting to look more reasonable now than it was initially. Ran respectably last time out over 6f on the AW and looks as though he might be worth a try at 7f.

Form: 4855-34

Non-Runners

(6)

Tommy G²¹

Weight: 9-6| Age: 5

T: J S Goldie J: P J McDonald

Forecasts

Tommy G (5/1), Ventura Secret (11/2), Call Out Loud (8/1), Brockholes (8/1), Katheefa (8/1), Dirchill (10/1), Royal Connoisseur (10/1), Suitcase 'n' Taxi (10/1), Lanjano (10/1), Benjamin Thomas (14/1), Cosmic Chatter (14/1), Mr Orange (18/1), Start Time (20/1), Kody Ridge (20/1), Indian Pursuit (25/1), Danish Duke (33/1), Cliff (33/1), Palenville (33/1), Ballymore Castle (33/1), Majeste (40/1)

A race that has been run as two divisions in the past four years is now squeezed into one complex handicap with how the draw is going to work out another part of the puzzle. ROYAL CONNOISSEUR has slipped to a very attractive mark if he’s wound up and ready to go first time out while Tommy G has been performing well on the AW of late. Brockholes one of the others that has to enter the argument given her good recent form with Call Out Loud and Cosmic Chatter another couple throw in the mix in a race that will take some solving.