17:10 Thirsk

Saturday 4 August 2018

All13:4514:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

Racing UK HD On Sky 426 Handicap

Off time: 17:17 | Winning time: 1m 41.12s

(4)

Mountain Breath⁷⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Jason Hart| T: C W Fairhurst| OR: 72

14/1

Won a 6f Newcastle (AW) novice event in October and returned at that level of form in April. Well beaten on handicap debut at Doncaster in May. This is easier and the stable's runners have hit a purple patch. Considered now upped in trip.

Form: 31-40

(1)

Zahraa⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: T Hamilton| T: M Dods| OR: 67

25/1

Scored on her stable debut/reappearance in a Wolverhampton handicap (7f, AW) in April, when 2lb higher. Has been unable to get competitive since. Handicapper has cut her some slack, but has a bit to prove, including over this far.

Form: 3-15070

(5)

Admiral Rooke¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Callum Rodriguez⁽³⁾| T: M Dods| OR: 67| BF

5/2

0-12, but placed five times and came closest to success when a neck second at Hamilton (1m½f, soft) in June. Ran well here over C&D last time, but has been nudged up another 2lb for that. Should be competitive, but a bit more needed.

Form: 4-34322

(8)

Straight Ash⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Ben Robinson⁽³⁾| T: Ollie Pears| OR: 66| D

14/1

Has won on both soft and firm ground, the latter on his final start for Richard Hannon in a Bath handicap last month. Well held from today's 4lb higher mark in a better race last time. This is easier, but he still has a bit more to prove.

Form: 952417

(9)

Soar Above²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Tim Clark⁽³⁾| T: J Butler| OR: 63

40/1

Showed some promise on his second start in a 7f Kempton (AW) novice event, but well held either side of that. Initial mark looks a bit on the stiff side, so probably one to watch in his handicap debut.

Form: 088

(6)

Mearing^p²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: D Allan| T: I Jardine| OR: 62| BF

9/2

0-11 and has not been finding much as the business end of his races. Slipping in the weights, but not obviously well handicapped on what we have seen and others make more appeal.

Form: 573655

(3)

She's Royal¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: G Lee| T: B Smart| OR: 60

12/1

Has started at generous odds on both her handicap starts so far, being comfortably held. Dropped 10lb since starting the first of those, which could now bring this unexposed filly into this. Interesting if supported.

Form: 76376-6

(11)

Gleaming Sun⁶⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Harrison Shaw⁽⁵⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 60

17/2

Second in three successive Fibresand starts at Southwell (6f/1m) in the spring and seems to prefer that surface to turf on what we have seen so far. Not disgraced in better race at Doncaster latest. Bit to prove on turf, but on a competitive mark.

Form: 49-2229

(10)

Travel Lightly^b¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: Robert Dodsworth⁽⁷⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 53

4/1

Scored by 4L at Ayr (7f, good to firm, in first-time blinkers) on penultimate start. Ran well upped to 1m½f under penalty at Nottingham last time. Now 8lb higher than than first win and in a better race, so improvement needed.

Form: 990-812

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to all bets - deduction 10p in the pound

Non-Runners

(7)

She's Different⁶⁷

Weight: 9-7| Age: 3

T: N Tinkler J: T Eaves

(2)

Highland Bobby⁵⁸

Weight: 9-3| Age: 3

T: D O'Meara J: D Tudhope

Forecasts

Admiral Rooke (5/2), Travel Lightly (4/1), Mearing (9/2), Gleaming Sun (17/2), She's Royal (12/1), She's Different (12/1), Mountain Breath (14/1), Straight Ash (14/1), Highland Bobby (14/1), Zahraa (25/1), Soar Above (40/1)

Money for She's Royal would be interesting ahead of this, with a 10lb drop from her initial handicap mark potentially generous. However, Chris Fairhurst has his team in good shape at present and there may be more to come from MOUNTAIN BREATH, now stepped up to this trip. She's Different is another to whom that applies, while Admiral Rooke and Gleaming Sun both have positives to their names.