16:15 York

Wednesday 22 August 2018

All13:5514:2515:0015:3516:1516:50

Sky Bet Handicap

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 3m 30.27s

(3)

Hochfeld¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: W Buick| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 102

15/2

Won three times last but he's been inconsistent since the last of those victories. Ran well last time out at Goodwood when third of 13 but looks in need of some relief from the handicapper.

Form: 935-493

(10)

Natural Scenery^p⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: C Soumillon| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 99| D

9/1

Not won on turf since winning her maiden at Newmarket on her second start. Has been below form in her two runs since her campaign in Meydan this winter and while feasibly handicapped, hard to fancy at present.

Form: 354905

(12)

Watersmeet¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 97| D

33/1

Very useful on AW but has won just twice in 23 turf starts. Tailed off at Goodwood last time and others preferred.

Form: 113940

(7)

Speedo Boy²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: James Doyle| T: Ian Williams| OR: 96| D

5/1

Got his head back in front at Ascot last time out but he's 3lb higher in a much deeper race here and consistency wouldn't be his forte.

Form: 777-471

(13)

Blue Rambler⁴³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: George Downing| T: Ian Williams| OR: 95

100/1

Only seen three times since 2016 and he was well beaten at Newmarket last summer when last seen. Returns from another significant absence here and given that he's still a maiden on the Flat, it's easy enough to look elsewhere.

Form: 736/570-

(9)

Manjaam¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: D Tudhope| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 94| C

20/1

Inconsistent sort who got his head back in front at this course in May when a winner at 1m4f. Well beaten in three outings since and needs to prove he can be effective at this sort of trip.

Form: 261065

(8)

Soldier In Action¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: S De Sousa| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 94| D

12/1

Ended last year's campaign with a win at Kempton but struggling for form this year before a promising effort at Ascot last time. Most of his turf form has come with cut in the ground but well-handicapped enough to make his presence felt here.

Form: 687004

(11)

Mancini²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: R Kingscote| T: J G Portman| OR: 93| BF| D

10/1

Has won four of his last seven starts and very impressive when winning at Goodwood in June. Couldn't justify favouritism at Ascot last time out behind Speedo Boy but probably did too much too soon that day and worth giving another chance to.

Form: 7-11413

(5)

Genetics¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 92

6/1

A winner of three of his last four and produced a wide margin win at Ascot last time, though his rivals game him far too much rope on the front end. Step up to this trip could eke out more improvement and he's an interesting runner.

Form: 641211

(2)

Here And Now^t³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett| OR: 91

12/1

Won twice as a juvenile and in good form in three of his four runs last year without getting his head in front. Had excuses on his return to action at Windsor and ran okay when third of seven here last time; capable of running well again.

Form: 4230-83

(16)

Northwest Frontier^b²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 90| CD

9/1

Has proved progressive this year and he was impressive when winning over C&D last month. Not as his best at Goodwood last time but that was a slightly odd race (flip start, runaway leader) and worth giving another chance to.

Form: 311216

(1)

Eye of The Storm²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 8-12| J: P Makin| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 90| D

20/1

Has struggled on his last couple of starts but denied in the run a couple of times at Haydock back in June. Losing run goes back to 2015 but he's run well in defeat on several occasions and he's well handicapped on old form.

Form: 063306

(17)

Graceland⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: Louis Steward| T: M L W Bell| OR: 89| D

20/1

Doesn't win often and she arrives here 7lb above his highest winning handicap mark. Has run okay a couple of times this year but widest draw not ideal and others make more appeal.

Form: 8-05440

(4)

Bedrock^p,t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: J Fanning| T: I Jardine| OR: 88| D

11/1

Respectable fourth in the Galway Hurdle last time out and had looked progressive on the Flat earllier in the season before a couple of below par efforts. Could be more to come on the level and not ruled out.

Form: 3/52108

(14)

Stormin Tom⁹^{(ex 6)}

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: Rachel Richardson| T: T D Easterby| OR: 81| D

16/1

Has been in the form of his life this campaign and has only finished outside the first three once in nine starts. Career best win at Ripon last time but this is much tougher and he's effectively off a 7lb higher mark.

Form: 321221

(6)

Davy's Dilemma²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: A Mullen| T: M Dods| OR: 86| CD

12/1

Won twice on the Flat last year and returned to form with a C&D win last time out. 4lb higher here and this is tougher but he has fewer miles on the clock than many of these.

Form: 11-3531

Non-Runners

(15)

Clever Cookie⁵³

Weight: 9-8| Age: 10

T: P D Niven J: D Allan

Forecasts

Speedo Boy (5/1), Genetics (6/1), Hochfeld (15/2), Northwest Frontier (9/1), Natural Scenery (9/1), Mancini (10/1), Bedrock (11/1), Here And Now (12/1), Davy's Dilemma (12/1), Soldier In Action (12/1), Stormin Tom (16/1), Graceland (20/1), Eye of The Storm (20/1), Manjaam (20/1), Clever Cookie (25/1), Watersmeet (33/1), Blue Rambler (100/1)

It may be worth taking a chance on GENETICS after his wide margin win last time out at Ascot. There's no doubt his rivals gifted him an easy lead that day but he's progressive and there could be more to come up in trip. Northwest Frontier is another progressive sort capable of going well and his best effort came over course and distance but Soldier In Action could prove to be the main danger back on a very lenient handicap mark with Silvestre De Sousa in the saddle.