15:40 York

Saturday 14 July 2018

All13:5514:3515:1015:4016:1516:5017:20

59th John Smith's Cup Handicap

Off time: 15:42 | Winning time: 2m 9.50s

(22)

Master The World^p⁷⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: Dane O'Neill| T: D R C Elsworth| OR: 106| C| D

33/1

Group 3 Winter Derby winner over this trip at Lingfield (AW) in February. 3lb higher than when last winning on turf at Goodwood in August. Held in recent Group 2 and 3 races and faces a tough task from this mark back in a handicap from widest draw.

Form: 27-1254

(4)

Born To Be Alive⁸⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: C Lee⁽³⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 103

25/1

Has been unable to add to his 1m Ayr maiden win (good) from 13-months ago, but has posted several very good Listed and handicap runs in defeat. Yet to show his best over this far and despite a good draw, he has a fair bit to prove.

Form: 2-74029

(20)

Appeared²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 103| BF| C

9/1

Scored here over 1m4f (good) last year and again over that trip at Ascot (good to firm) in May, when 12lb lower. Has performed to a similar level from this sort of mark since then, so needs a bit more now back in trip from a poor draw.

Form: 3/1258-4

(12)

Dash Of Spice²²^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: David Egan| T: D R C Elsworth| OR: 98| D

3/1

Has finished out of the first two on just one occasion (on debut), winning three times, including his last two at Epsom and then the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot (both 1m4f). Up 5lb for that, but can probably handle drop in trip. Claims.

Form: 21-2211

(19)

Another Touch²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: J Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 101

14/1

Has won some decent handicaps and in Listed company at around 1m. Back at the level of that latter Pontefract success when ½L third here in the Listed Ganton Stakes (1m) last time. Just about sees out this trip. Draw not kind here. Each-way squeak.

Form: 583363

(5)

Thundering Blue²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Fran Berry| T: D Menuisier| OR: 100| CD

6/1

Won on his only visit here over C&D in May, when 7lb lower, and has plenty of decent form in these sort of races. Well held behind Dash Of Spice at Royal Ascot last time, but better drawn than him and over his optimum trip he has claims.

Form: 117-510

(16)

Tandem²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 9-4| J: O J Orr⁽³⁾| T: D K Weld| OR: 100| D

12/1

Produced his best performance for several seasons when scoring over a similar trip at Leopardstown this time last year. Good effort at Cork (1m4f, good to firm) last time, but more needed from this draw and the same mark.

Form: 1119-43

(3)

Euchen Glen¹⁴^{(ex 5)}

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: J S Goldie| OR: 94| D

20/1

Has made his name as a staying handicapper, doing his best work at 1m5f plus in the past 12-months or so. Did win over this trip in the early part of last season and is well drawn here, so if they go their usual pace, he could come into it late on.

Form: 0-37312

(14)

Sir Chauvelin¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Phil Dennis| T: J S Goldie| OR: 97

25/1

Has yet to win over a trip this short, having done all his Flat winning from 1m4f-1m5f. Ran well when dropped to 1m2f in the Zetland Gold Cup in May, however, and like his stablemate has each-way claims off the likely strong pace.

Form: 01-8423

(8)

Kynren²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: R Winston| T: T D Barron| OR: 96| BF

18/1

Completed a hat-trick last year over 7f/1m, making good progress. Well held in the Royal Hunt Cup last time, but if you can forgive him that, then his previous Sandown run from 3lb lower would have to put him in your each-way thoughts here.

Form: 111-320

(1)

What's The Story^p²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Callum Rodriguez⁽³⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 96

12/1

A story of progress since his debut. Won both starts in 2017 (7f, inc on good to firm) and added another at Newcastle (1m). Just behind Sir Chauvelin in the Zetland. Great run last time in Royal Hunt Cup. Drops 2lb, should stay. Plumb draw. Claims.

Form: 394514

(6)

Brorocco^h¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 96| BF| D

8/1

Dual winner of good handicaps over 1m2f in 2017 (both on good, has won on good to firm). Posted a career-best at Epsom (1m2f, soft) last month, when 2¾L second. Not far off that at Newmarket last time. More needed, but decent draw and not ruled out.

Form: 15-7243

(7)

Across Dubai^p1²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: J-P Guillambert| T: W J Haggas| OR: 95| BF| D

14/1

Opened his account with a hat-trick hung over the end of the 2016 season and his first two runs last year, including over this trip at Haydock. 5L fifth from this mark over C&D last month. Better on AW last time, but cheekpieces need to work well.

Form: 1156-53

(9)

Mordin²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: G Lee| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 94| BF| D

12/1

Similar profile to Across Dubai, winning his maiden last year and then returning from a break to score twice more in handicaps in April (inc 1m2f, good to firm). Continued to progress despite three narrow defeats. Will need some more in this field.

Form: 1-11222

(11)

Dawaaleeb^v²²^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: D Allan| T: J L Eyre| OR: 89

25/1

Former Charlie Hills-trained. Has been well placed to win 4-11 and make the frame in four more. Career-best last time when scoring at Redcar (1m, good to firm). Will need another to defy a penalty in such a competitive race over this longer trip.

Form: 133151

(18)

Fayez⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Shane Gray| T: D O'Meara| OR: 93| D

66/1

Meets Across Dubai on the same terms as when ½L ahead of him over C&D last month. Been back here and also to Ayr since, running well over 1m on both starts. Not easy to see him winning and also tough enough task to make the frame from wide draw.

Form: 024433

(2)

Titus¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: S Donohoe| T: D Carroll| OR: 92| BF| D

20/1

Won when tried over a similar trip at Wetherby (1m2f, good to soft) in May, in novice company. Behind Thundering Blue (4¼L) next time and then ahead of Sir Chauvelin and Whats The Story in the Zetland. Same mark here. Good draw. Each-way chance.

Form: 5-01338

(10)

Dance King^p,t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-9| J: Ben Robinson⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 91| D

50/1

0-8 at this venue, but has finished in the first four on six occasions, four of those over C&D. Equalled his career best when scoring at Musselburgh (1m4½f, good to firm) last month, when 4lb lower, but well beaten off this mark last time.

Form: 4-06710

(17)

Master Carpenter⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: Charlie Bennett⁽³⁾| T: B R Millman| OR: 91| CD

20/1

Won this race in 2015, when 13lb higher and popped up again over C&D at last year's Dante meeting. Not the force he was and has never won on ground quicker than good. With a poor draw, there are several reasons to take him on if he lines up.

Form: 40-0445

Non-Runners

(21)

Afaak²⁴

Weight: 9-7| Age: 4

T: C Hills J: Non Runner

(15)

Zaaki¹

Weight: 8-11| Age: 3

T: Sir Michael Stoute J: Non Runner

(13)

Buzz¹⁰

Weight: 8-11| Age: 4

T: H Morrison J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Dash Of Spice (3/1), Thundering Blue (6/1), Afaak (7/1), Zaaki (15/2), Brorocco (8/1), Appeared (9/1), What's The Story (12/1), Tandem (12/1), Mordin (12/1), Another Touch (14/1), Across Dubai (14/1), Buzz (14/1), Kynren (18/1), Euchen Glen (20/1), Titus (20/1), Master Carpenter (20/1), Sir Chauvelin (25/1), Born To Be Alive (25/1), Dawaaleeb (25/1), Master The World (33/1), Dance King (50/1), Fayez (66/1)

Six of the last 10 winners have returned double-figure SPs. This is likely to be the usual cavalry charge, but despite the strong pace hinting at needing a runner who could get a bit further, none of the last six winners have ever won over a trip longer than this. That emphasis on speed should suit THUNDERING BLUE, who is well up to this level, has a good draw and will be suited by the return to this trip after finishing behind Dash Of Spice (well touted for this, and has claims) last time. Whats The Story could be a big danger, while Brorocco, Mordin and Krynen are three that cannot be ruled out.