13:50 Thirsk

Monday 30 April 2018

All13:5014:2014:5515:3016:0516:3517:0517:35

Bet At racinguk.com Handicap

Off time: 13:53 | Winning time: 1m 15.67s

(5)

Me Before You²²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 61

8/1

Didn't improve for the fitting of the hood on her final start at Musselburgh in September 2017 (5f good). Discarded for seasonal reappearance and dropped 4lb.

Form: 3389-

(7)

Bibbidibobbidiboo¹⁹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: P Hanagan| T: Mrs A Duffield| OR: 60

4/1

Showed more on her third start in a nursery at Newcastle in October 2017 (6f) when finishing 2L third to Crown Of Cortez. Raised 1lb, but connections have now nailed down her ideal trip.

Form: 744473-

(10)

Rickyroadboy⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: A Mullen| T: M Walford| OR: 59| D

11/4

Kicked his turf campaign off with success at Ripon (6f soft) earlier this month, and was keeping on towards the finish (third) over an inadequate 5f at Catterick latest. Raised another 4lb, but holds every chance.

Form: 00-6413

(2)

Mount Hellvelyn¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: David Probert| T: P T Midgley| OR: 59

9/2

Didn't show much for previous trainer Clive Mulhall, but improvement looks likely now joining this new trainer. Met trouble in running on his recent stable debut at Ripon (6f soft).

Form: 67850-7

(6)

Mecca's Spirit²⁰²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods| OR: 58

8/1

Cost 120,000 gns as a yearling, but basically a disappointment so far. Tried 7f for the first time on her nursery debut at Newcastle in October 2017, but didn't appear to stay. Dropped a further 3lb.

Form: 6548-

(3)

Billy Booth^t¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: T Eaves| T: Miss Gay Kelleway| OR: 57

22/1

Didn't exactly look the part as a juvenile, but marginally better on his return to action at Windsor recently (5f heavy). Raced alone on the far side when finishing 9L third to Marietta Robusti.

Form: 050-3

(9)

Eeh Bah Gum²⁰⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 56

66/1

No joy as a juvenile for David O'Meara, but has moved on over the winter and has been gelded. First start in handicap company.

Form: 009-

(8)

Shakiah¹⁹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S A Watt| OR: 56

20/1

Finished fifth, beaten just over 5L by Nicklaus (6f novice stakes, Redcar) on her final start as a juvenile in late October 2017. Not shown much prior to that and now goes handicapping from a modest opening mark.

Form: 685-

(11)

Nalaini¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: K Stott| T: D Carroll| OR: 55

22/1

Tailed off on her turf/handicap debut at Ripon (6f soft) earlier this month, and couldn't be considered based on that showing.

Form: 5-950

(4)

French Silk²²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Paula Muir⁽⁷⁾| T: C W Fairhurst| OR: 50

16/1

Slowly improved with racing last season after a very poor first few starts. Ended her juvenile campaign by finishing approximately 3L third to Armed Response at Newcastle (6f) in September 2017.

Form: 00064-

(12)

Erastus¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 48

10/1

Now a nine race maiden, and has dropped 10lb in the weights since his handicap debut. Formerly with Mick Channon but this trainer hasn't worked her magic on him just yet.

Form: 4970-76

(1)

Haxby Juniors¹⁰⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 45

100/1

Scarcely beaten a rival in four starts so far, with her latest run coming at Newcastle in January (5f). A major surprise if she takes positive steps forward.

Form: 609-7

Forecasts

Rickyroadboy (11/4), Bibbidibobbidiboo (4/1), Mount Hellvelyn (9/2), Mecca's Spirit (8/1), Me Before You (8/1), Erastus (10/1), French Silk (16/1), Shakiah (20/1), Nalaini (22/1), Billy Booth (22/1), Eeh Bah Gum (66/1), Haxby Juniors (100/1)

A modest opener which can (despite the high draw) go the way of recent Ripon winner RICKYROADBOY. He will appreciate the return to this 6f trip after finding the minimum trip at Catterick too sharp for his liking, and he won't be inconvenienced by any further rainfall. Of the others, perhaps the likes of Bibbidibobbidiboo and French Silk will step forward for the switch back to turf from Tapeta.