14:00 York

Saturday 26 May 2018

All14:0014:3515:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

Constant Security Handicap

Off time: 14:01 | Winning time: 1m 23.41s

(9)

So Beloved¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: P Makin| T: D O'Meara| OR: 108| CD

12/1

C&D winner who hasn't got his head in front since May 2016, but has run a number of good races (including placing in a Group 1) since then, so even off top weight he has to be respected.

Form: 4249-24

(1)

Absolutely So³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-11| J: G Lee| T: A M Balding| OR: 105| CD

18/1

Trip/ground fine but needs to bounce back from a poor effort at Newmarket last time out and low draws over this C&D sometimes tricky to negotiate.

Form: 04219-0

(2)

Salateen²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 104| CD

13/2

Up 2lb for a short head victory at Doncaster last time out. Yet to defy a mark this high in a handicap but should be able to operate off it, and is also a previous C&D winner.

Form: 6-07081

(10)

Lualiwa²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 99| CD

9/1

C&D winner who seemed to struggle off this mark at Haydock last time out, and therefore only makes limited appeal in a tough-looking race.

Form: 260-016

(11)

Golden Apollo¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 97| C

11/2

Possibly better over 6f but can still improve on his eighth place finish here on seasonal debut last time out.

Form: 49139-8

(7)

Eastern Impact²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 96

12/1

Two solid efforts so far this campaign and this is possibly slightly less competitive than those races, though he needs to prove he stays this far.

Form: 0004-37

(8)

Hayadh²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Jason Hart| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 96| D

13/2

Beaten only a neck off 3lb lower than this in the Hunt Cup (run at Wetherby) last time, but the return to this trip should suit given all three of his career wins were over this distance.

Form: 1/18962

(5)

Get Knotted^p¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Callum Rodriguez⁽³⁾| T: M Dods| OR: 96| CD

11/2

Down the field in the Victoria Cup last time out, but that was an incredibly competitive race and he often goes well here; not ruled out.

Form: 3568-20

(6)

Gilgamesh¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Edward Greatrex| T: George Scott| OR: 96| D

5/1

Ran well in the Victoria Cup last time out, when playing a hand in the very tight finish. Still needs to prove he's capable of winning at this level, but he has potential.

Form: 1114-07

(3)

Normandy Barriere¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Lewis Edmunds⁽³⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 96| D

20/1

Useful on his day but better over 6f and didn't run well in a weaker race than this at Ascot last time out.

Form: 19055-0

(4)

Rufus King³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Harry Bentley| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 105| D

12/1

Winner over this trip at Newmarket on his final run of the previous campaign, but his effort at the same course in the European Free Handicap suggests this mark may be too much for him for now.

Form: 0561-20

Forecasts

Gilgamesh (5/1), Get Knotted (11/2), Golden Apollo (11/2), Salateen (13/2), Hayadh (13/2), Lualiwa (9/1), So Beloved (12/1), Rufus King (12/1), Eastern Impact (12/1), Absolutely So (18/1), Normandy Barriere (20/1)

So Beloved isn't the most prolific of winners but would have an excellent chance in this if somewhere near his best and it could be between him and HAYADH. Rebecca Bastiman's charge ran a great race in the Hunt Cup (run at Wetherby this year) last time out off a mark 3lb lower than this, and the fact he seems better over this 7f trip only encourages further enthusiasm. Recent Doncaster scorer Salateen completes the shortlist.