16:15 Thirsk

Saturday 21 April 2018

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

JW 4x4 Northallerton Handicap

Off time: 16:18 | Winning time: 2m 39.08s

(2)

Dance King^p,t¹⁸⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 88| D

25/1

Still a useful handicapper and he travelled well in his two wins last year although neither came over as far as this. Usually gives a good account of himself and has won off a long break before; remains 3lb above his last winning mark.

Form: 186414-

(5)

Tor²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Jamie Gormley⁽⁵⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 88

20/1

His form on turf last year was bordering on useful with his three wins all coming at slightly longer trips than he faces today. Ran poorly on the AW returning from a break last time (rated lower in that sphere) and may find this a little sharp.

Form: 21014-7

(9)

Zafayan^b⁷⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Shane Gray| T: P D Niven| OR: 88| D

40/1

Has some useful Irish form to his name off a slightly higher mark when with Dermot Weld and may well have needed his first run for this yard. Usually races prominently and the blinkers worn for his last win return to the fray today.

Form: 1/0270-4

(10)

Mutadaffeq¹⁸⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 87| CD

14/1

Three wins last year (one over C&D) appeared to suggest that the wheels were firmly on the wagon but something clearly went wrong for his last three starts. Given a break he did win his first two starts last year which gives hope he will bounce back.

Form: 591670-

(13)

Archippos²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: P J McDonald| T: P A Kirby| OR: 86

5/1

Repeated the trick to win the same Doncaster race off a 4lb higher mark this year again off a decent break. It may well be that he's best caught fresh as he steps back up in trip here off a 5lb higher mark.

Form: 14535-1

(12)

Tuff Rock²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: L Morris| T: E Walker| OR: 86| BF

7/2

Hard to ignore after making a very promising return to action on the AW at Kempton (1m3f) looking just short of pace at that shorter trip. Pushed up just 1lb for that run and still looks on a feasible mark.

Form: 41022-4

(6)

Mister Belvedere²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods| OR: 86

14/1

Produced a good effort on his return from a break last time when taking the runner-up slot over this trip on the AW. Given how poorly he ended last season it remains to be seen if he can build on this run.

Form: 43207-2

(17)

Kajaki^p²⁰³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 84| BF| D

8/1

A winner at Chester and Catterick last year with his first win of the year coming whilst he was a fresh horse. Shaped as if he was still in good form when last seen (paid for trying to match pace with the winner); mark does look rather stiff though.

Form: 222215-

(11)

Kensington Star^p⁹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Connor Beasley| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 83

16/1

Twice a winner last year he still appears to be on a reasonable mark to operate off with the Fibresand surface to blame for his last poor run. He should prove more at home back on turf and has run off a break before.

Form: 46573-7

(14)

Bolder Bob¹⁹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: B A Curtis| T: T D Barron| OR: 83| D

13/2

Looked in very good form at the conclusion of his last season despite finding a York Class 2 handicap too hot to handle on his final 2017 start. That was over the longest trip he's faced so this 1m4f will suit better if he's ready to roll first time.

Form: 334110-

(8)

Be Perfect^p²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 8-12| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 79| D

50/1

Went right off the boil at the end of his last season and appeared to be no better when returning after 6 months off. Inconsistent and hard to know what to really expect now and his second start of the year.

Form: 46900-9

(4)

Jabbaar⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: P Makin| T: I Jardine| OR: 79| BF| D

10/1

Won on turf off a 7lb lower mark in October over this trip handling the heavy ground well and has come back from a break in good heart. Already a winner this year on Fibresand he shaped well again last time and will appreciate a return to this trip.

Form: 315-313

(16)

Starplex⁷⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 8-11| J: G Lee| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 78

33/1

Turned into a useful handicapper after winning his maiden over a shorter trip on soft ground last year although yet to win in this sphere. Ran poorly on his Flat return though before faring better last time over hurdles.

Form: 4132-8

(1)

Arrowtown^h¹⁸⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: Nathan Evans| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 77| D

16/1

Lightly-raced last year she won late on in the year when she was fresher than most of her rivals (1m4f, heavy) at Pontefract. Unlucky not to win her one race after that she appears versatile and has gone well fresh before.

Form: 24/2612-

(7)

Swaheen¹⁷¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: Jason Hart| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 77| D

22/1

Headgear that he's worn for his last four starts is now removed as he starts his new season having ended the old one poorly. Stays further than this and has dropped 2lb below his last winning mark if he can bounce back here.

Form: 054348-

(15)

Northwest Frontier^b¹⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 76

6/1

Only has a maiden win to his name and not seen in a handicap since November last year on the AW. His form in this sphere was generally good though and he may have benefitted from the break over the winter; more expected this year.

Form: 328407-

Non-Runners

(3)

Al Destoor¹⁴⁶

Weight: 9-7| Age: 8

T: J Candlish J: D Nolan

Forecasts

Tuff Rock (7/2), Archippos (5/1), Northwest Frontier (6/1), Bolder Bob (13/2), Kajaki (8/1), Jabbaar (10/1), Al Destoor (12/1), Mutadaffeq (14/1), Mister Belvedere (14/1), Kensington Star (16/1), Arrowtown (16/1), Tor (20/1), Swaheen (22/1), Dance King (25/1), Starplex (33/1), Zafayan (40/1), Be Perfect (50/1)

Another very intricate handicap which will take some unravelling with plenty of these being given a chance here in a wide-open handicap. TUFF ROCK has already run well and may just have a fitness edge on a few of these as he bids to build on his good AW run back on turf this time around. Arrowtown has shown that she’s run well when fresh before and still lurks on a decent mark while Jabbaar will enjoy coming back to turf and being over this trip. Plenty more is expected from Northwest Frontier this time with Zafayan worth noting in the market for any moves.