17:35 Thirsk

Monday 30 April 2018

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

Next Meeting At thirskraces Tuesday 8th May Handicap

Off time: 18:10 | Winning time: 2m 40.14s

(8)

King's Coinage^h¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 65| D

14/1

Newbury winner for Ed Walker in June 2017 (1m4f good), and moved on for 28,000 gns the following month. Now 2lb below his last winning mark (and dropped in grade), so could go close if recapturing his best form.

Form: 46009-0

(7)

Tristram¹⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: F Norton| T: J Mackie| OR: 64WS

25/1

Lightly raced maiden who was formerly based with Richard Hughes. Sold for 8,500 gns in July 2017, he's not progressed for this trainer, but has had a wind operation since running over hurdles at Musselburgh in December.

Form: 347480-

(16)

Four Kingdoms³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Connor Beasley| T: K R Burke| OR: 62| D

12/1

Won twice in this grade of handicap last back-end (Yarmouth and Kempton), but unable to cope with the attentions of the handicapper as a result. Not sighted on recent turf return at Doncaster (1m4f), so needs much more.

Form: 21180-0

(12)

Hussar Ballad²³

Age: 9| Weight: 9-3| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 61| D

16/1

Not raced on turf since late summer, and is better known for his prowess on the AW (5-29). Trip fine, but a wide draw on turf the pressing concern.

Form: 610-634

(2)

Mysterial²²³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: Rachel Richardson⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S A Watt| OR: 61| D

28/1

Sold by previous trainer Declan Carroll for just £800 in November 2017, so that suggests there is a potential physical reason for his rapid fall in the weights. Better over 1m2f in the latter part of his racing career.

Form: 536700-

(5)

Ice Galley²⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: K Stott| T: P A Kirby| OR: 60

14/1

Has tried all sorts of trips (1m2f-2m1f), but remains a maiden after 14 starts. Fallen 10lb in the weights over the past 12 months, but out of form, and his trainer also saddles Zig Zag and Richard Strauss.

Form: 208689-

(3)

Zihaam²²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: T Hamilton| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 59

16/1

With Kevin Prendergast in Ireland during his formative years, and was placed in a Gowran Park maiden in June 2017 (1m1f+ soft to heavy). No real progress over longer trips for this trainer, but has fallen in the weights as a result.

Form: 396486-

(15)

Correggio²⁰²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: P Mulrennan| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 58

16/1

Runner up to 80/1 poke Hayward Field off this mark over C&D in July 2017, so theoretically has a squeak on that form alone. Track/trip/ground pose few concerns, but drawn out very wide in stall number 15.

Form: 862249-

(13)

Braes Of Lochalsh^v¹¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: Harrison Shaw⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 58

20/1

Not in great nick for the majority of the previous campaign and was last seen finishing a distant fifth of six at Newcastle (2m) in early January. Current mark workable, but best up at Ayr on soft ground.

Form: 54560-5

(14)

Melabi¹⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Faye McManoman⁽⁷⁾| T: Mike Hammond| OR: 57| CD

22/1

Beat Mr Sundowner by ¾L when taking this prize in 2017 for previous trainer Richard Ford. A tale of woe thereafter, scarcely beating a single rival in his last six starts, so lines up today from an 8lb lower mark.

Form: 606940-

(4)

Zig Zag⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Callum Rodriguez⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 57| BF

7/1

Rated 125 over hurdles, so should be competitive on the Flat from this sort of handicap mark. Never involved on seasonal reappearance at Catterick last week, but could do better on just his third start for this trainer.

Form: 15/000-8

(1)

Richard Strauss⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: P Hanagan| T: P A Kirby| OR: 55

5/1

Former stablemate of Zig Zag in his Irish days with Joseph O'Brien. 105 rated hurdler, but ran well back on the Flat at Catterick last week (1m4f good to soft) when finishing 2½L third to New Society.

Form: 0674-03

(9)

Love Candy³³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: B A Curtis| T: Sally Haynes| OR: 53

25/1

Not shown much ability so far, but deserves more time after making just four racecourse appearances. Should be stronger for her recent seasonal/handicap debut at Newcastle (1m4f+), but others look far sharper form wise at present.

Form: 936-6

(6)

Dyna Might^p¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: A Mullen| T: Ollie Pears| OR: 53| CD

14/1

Lost the plot towards the back-end of last season, but was rock-solid at this lowly level in 1m4f Yorkshire handicaps earlier in the campaign; winning both over C&D and at Beverley. Risky, but could prove rewarding at decent odds.

Form: 44000-9

(17)

Druid's Diamond^p,t⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Nathan Evans| T: M Walford| OR: 53

7/1

Had no shortage of chances (18-race maiden), and a wide draw is disadvantageous even over this trip at Thirsk. Runner up at Wolverhampton latest (Trautmann third).

Form: 4D267-2

(11)

Trautmann^p⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Rowan Scott⁽³⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 51

15/2

Wore first time cheek-pieces (retained) when finishing third to Wildomar at Wolverhampton last week (Druid's Diamond second). Not with this trainer for all that long; tends to get the very best out of her horses whatever their level of ability.

Form: 7354-63

(10)

Silver Gleam²¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: D Fentiman| T: C W Fairhurst| OR: 47

20/1

A 14-race maiden on a steady downward spiral. Off the track since late September 2017, and despite having produced modest efforts in this grade over C&D previously couldn't be recommended.

Form: 464744-

Forecasts

Richard Strauss (5/1), Zig Zag (7/1), Druid's Diamond (7/1), Trautmann (15/2), Four Kingdoms (12/1), Ice Galley (14/1), King's Coinage (14/1), Dyna Might (14/1), Correggio (16/1), Hussar Ballad (16/1), Zihaam (16/1), Silver Gleam (20/1), Braes Of Lochalsh (20/1), Melabi (22/1), Tristram (25/1), Love Candy (25/1), Mysterial (28/1)

A low grade finale in which we wrestle with the age old dilemma of recent form versus the hope of an upturn in fortunes. Phil Kirby saddles a trio of runners with both Zig Zag and Richard Strauss bidding to build upon fair efforts at Catterick, and on hurdles ratings alone, either is capable of profiting in this grade. Druid's Diamond and Trautmann aren't overly convincing, but filled the frame behind Wildomar at Wolverhampton recently. King's Coinage is essentially better than these rivals, but needs to prove he still wants to deliver the goods, so we'll take aim at the filly DYNA MIGHT in the hope that she can reproduce her past C&D winning form.