17:35 York

Thursday 17 May 2018

All14:2014:5515:3016:0516:3517:0517:35

Investec Wealth Handicap

Off time: 17:37 | Winning time: 3m 34.17s

(12)

Claudio Monteverdi^p,t³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: D Allan| T: R Hughes| OR: 92

66/1

Leopardstown maiden winner in 2017 and ran well in Listed company back at that course in June. No surprise to see him well beaten in the Irish Derby next time and showed nothing when tailed off on debut for this yard at Wolverhampton last month.

Form: 14285/0

(14)

Graceland¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: D Tudhope| T: M L W Bell| OR: 90| D

9/2

A winner at Ascot around this time last year and she's generally a consistent sort. Improved from her reappearance when fifth of 12 at Kempton last time but others are probably on more lenient handicap marks.

Form: 3928-05

(4)

World War^p¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A Watson| OR: 90

20/1

Had to wait until his 12th start before he could get his head in front when winning a maiden at Gowran on heavy ground but showed very little on debut for this yard and hard to imagine he's well-handicapped.

Form: 42221-6

(1)

Le Maitre Chat⁷⁰²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: D C Costello| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 86

40/1

Sole win came in a Ffos Las maiden (1m4f, soft) in 2014 when with Clive Cox. Stays 2m2f and from this mark you would say that he is entitled to be very competitive, though without a run since June 2016, it would be some effort to come home in front.

Form: 376600/

(13)

Blue Hussar¹²³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: P J McDonald| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 84| CD

11/1

While he's shown nothing over hurdles this winter, he's respected on his return to the Flat and he won over C&D two starts ago in this sphere. Each-way claims provided the grounds not too quick for him and his jockey rides this course well.

Form: 048/319-

(7)

Chocolate Box¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: L Morris| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 85| BF| D

8/1

Two wins from 14 starts but yet to win in eight tries on turf and has more on here with his handicap mark much higher after wins on AW this winter. Still early days for new yard so he's difficult to put a line through.

Form: 2153-14

(9)

Stone The Crows^p²³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: P Mulrennan| T: I Jardine| OR: 85

15/2

Firm ground maiden winner on return at Salisbury last year and ran well in defeat on next two starts. May be capable of improvement now stepped up in trip for his new yard and he's versatile with regards tactics.

Form: 2/12266-

(3)

Kajaki^p²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 83

8/1

Won twice last year and largely consistent throughout most of the campaign. May come on for his recent reappearance run and yard have hit form in recent weeks. Interesting runner back up in trip.

Form: 22215-5

(8)

Big Thunder^p¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: A Mullen| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 80| CD

33/1

Not won since landing a C&D success in 2015 when trained by David O'Meara. Well beaten on his return to Flat racing at Ripon last time and hard to fancy after that effort despite a lenient looking handicap mark.

Form: 00180/7

(5)

October Storm¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: J F Egan| T: M R Channon| OR: 77| CD

7/2

C&D winner in October, narrowly getting the better of Arrowtown and has run well in defeat twice since. Hasn't always been the most consistent in his career but capable of running well if he returns in the same form.

Form: 7081-36

(11)

Denmead¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: P Hanagan| T: J Butler| OR: 77| D

14/1

Two-time winner on AW in 2017 but his last couple of efforts on turf have been below par and showed very little on return at Wolverhampton last time. More needed.

Form: 31520-7

(2)

Waiting For Richie¹⁸³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: J P Sullivan| T: T P Tate| OR: 73| BF| D

7/1

Just one win from 12 starts but was finding his form towards the end of last season. Fast ground ideal on his return and he's an interesting runner here off a workable handicap mark.

Form: 254123-

(6)

Cray^p¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-5| J: A Elliott| T: J D Bethell| OR: 72

12/1

One win in 12 outings but returned with something close to career best at Newcastle last time and perhaps would have won the race if he hadn't have hung left. May come on for that and has claims off the same mark.

Form: 62665-3

Non-Runners

(10)

Arrowtown²⁶

Weight: 8-11| Age: 6

T: M & D Easterby J: Nathan Evans

Forecasts

October Storm (7/2), Graceland (9/2), Waiting For Richie (7/1), Stone The Crows (15/2), Chocolate Box (8/1), Kajaki (8/1), Blue Hussar (11/1), Cray (12/1), Arrowtown (12/1), Denmead (14/1), World War (20/1), Big Thunder (33/1), Le Maitre Chat (40/1), Claudio Monteverdi (66/1)

A competitive affair in the finale in which the local trainers are well represented. Micky Hammond runs three in the race, all with live chances and it's BLUE HUSSAR who makes most appeal after his course and distance success last year. Cray and Waiting For Richie bring similar profiles in and would appear to be on nice handicap marks while the Arrowtown and October Storm had a good battle over course and distance in October and should be thereabouts again.