16:35 Thirsk

Tuesday 19 June 2018

All13:4014:1014:4515:2015:5516:3517:1017:45

Theakston Best Bitter Handicap

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 2m 36.47s

(5)

Mutadaffeq¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 82| BF| CD

9/2

A three-time winner in 2017; kicking off those gains from a 9lb lower mark over C&D in May. Slowly working back to somewhere nearer his best form, but still beaten 7L when finishing third at Carlisle (1m3f) earlier this month.

Form: 70-0933

(2)

Starplex^h1¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: J Mitchell| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 80| CD

4/1

C&D winner in April (33/1) who has generally run to a similar level of form since despite edging up the weights. Finished just in behind Mutadaffeq at Carlisle latest and the hood is now applied; stays well.

Form: 32-8144

(1)

Fearsome²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: George Wood| T: N P Littmoden| OR: 78| D

11/1

Won twice over this trip at Lingfield (AW) earlier in the year, but is win-less on turf after four attempts; albeit this is a slightly weaker level of handicap to his early season Epsom/Ascot efforts.

Form: 542506

(7)

Sean O'Casey⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: A Mullen| T: M Appleby| OR: 75

16/1

Made all to record a second career win over an extended 1m3f at Yarmouth on his last Flat start (beaten over hurdles last week); up 6lb in a stronger race, so more on his plate.

Form: 478971

(4)

Aelius¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Nathan Evans| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 60

20/1

Raced only once over today's trip when finishing last of eight at Ripon in August 2017, but worth another attempt from a sliding mark given the level of application that he showed when winning over 1m2f at Nottingham a month earlier.

Form: 158-085

(6)

Global Style⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: J P Sullivan| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 74

5/2

Nathaniel colt who cost €250,000 as a yearling. Shaped more encouragingly on his second start in a handicap at Redcar (1m2f) in early May when beaten just ½L by Nibras Galaxy; up 2lb and in trip.

Form: 837-52

(3)

Bayshore Freeway¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 73

11/4

Finished in the frame on all three starts in maiden company last month (7.5f to 1m3.5f). Makes her handicap debut from a fair looking opening mark (albeit not easy to gauge the worth of her earlier form); fool-hardy to overlook in a modest race.

Form: 232

Forecasts

Global Style (5/2), Bayshore Freeway (11/4), Starplex (4/1), Mutadaffeq (9/2), Fearsome (11/1), Sean O'Casey (16/1), Aelius (20/1)

Not a race which necessarily sets the pulses racing, which implies that we should focus upon those horses with the potential to do better. The handicap debutante Bayshore Freeway merits respect given her stable headquarters; albeit the actual worth of what she has achieved in maiden company is open to debate. Therefore, with some minor reservations about this longer trip, we'll side with the 1m2f Redcar runner up GLOBAL STYLE, and for small stakes hope that this €250,000 son of Nathaniel can finally start living up to his very costly price tag.