15:00 York
Thursday 23 August 2018
All13:5514:2515:0015:3516:1516:50
Clipper Logistics Handicap
- 3YO plus  |  Class 2  |  7f 192y  |  Good to Firm (Good in places)  |  18 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 15:01Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 1m 36.96s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Arguably better than the bare result when finishing in midfield in the Listed Wolferton Stakes (1m2f) at Royal Ascot in June and should be suited by dropping back in trip; tough task off top-weight nevertheless.
7lb higher than when driven out to take the C&D Hambleton Handicap by 1½L in May, but that's fully merited on his fine Hunt Cup second and unlucky in the run close up fourth to Alfarris (1m2f) at Glorious Goodwood; key player.
Out of sorts since making all to win a 7f Class 2 handicap at Goodwood in May (good to firm), and hard to consider off 3lb higher with plenty to find with the likes of Seniority and Afaak.
No win since his juvenile days (September 2016), but has performed well on occasions since - most notably when finishing third in the 2017 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot; raced on unfavourable side at Ascot latest (13th of 27).
Meydan winner in February (1m good), and has run consistently well in competitive handicaps since, including when a fast-finishing close up sixth of 30 in the Hunt Cup; has extra to find with Seniority on Goodwood form but merits consideration.
Inching up the weights; 3lb higher than when finishing approx 1L third to Seniority at Glorious Goodwood latest (Poet's Society second); hopes of a reversal on 3lb better terms and won't be found lacking for stamina; massively consistent performer.
C&D winner (in 2016), with a fairly impressive overall strike-rate (7 from 22); tailed off 28th of 30 in the Hunt Cup on his penultimate start and weakened when headed behind today's rival Get Knotted over 7f (soft) here latest; blinkers on.
Slipping back to a winning mark, now just 2lb above what he won this race off in 2016 and seems to thrive on the Knavesmire (1,2,3); third and beaten less than 2L in this in 2017 (off an 11lb higher mark); dangerous.
Loftily rated for a horse who hasn't won since his racecourse debut in May 2016 (5f), but back from Meydan with a solid third in a 1m Class 2 handicap at Sandown in June, so reason enough why the assessor is unrelenting.
Has lacked a change of gear at a crucial stage in his most recent outings, but has run well nevertheless and wouldn't have much to find with the likes of Seniority and Original Choice; stablemate of Firmament and Bravery.
Won three on the bounce in 2017 (7f-1m), shooting up the weights as a result. However, has continued to progress, is ground versatile and shouldn't be troubled by a drop in trip after his 2+L John Smith's Cup (1m2f) third to Euchen Glen.
Notched a third 7f York win when stamping his name all over what should become 'his own' race here last month (soft); raised 2lb since and quick ground predicted, but hard to knock a horse with a record of 3,2,2,1 in Cl 2 course handicaps since May.
Twice a winner over 7½f on the Roodeye at Chester (good) in May, but his form had dipped slightly prior to a better effort at Galway latest; earlier held in fifth behind Afaak over C&D in May.
Managed to beat Harry Angel as a juvenile (5f), but hasn't seen masses of racing since; solid comeback run at Doncaster last month (7f, good to firm); up 2lb, but he's the least exposed horse in the race; market confidence a guide.
Split Seniority and Original Choice at Glorious Goodwood in early August (second), but below-par behind a stablemate on the AW at Chelmsford more latterly; fine overall record (10-56) but not easy to predict sometimes and others better handicapped.
Left John Gosden for 28,000 gns at the Newmarket July sales as a turf maiden (3 from 6 AW); handicap mark not overly lenient and a tough starting point for his new trainer Roger Fell; other days.
Stablemate of Firmament and Mythical Madness; hasn't won on turf since taking the 2017 Lincoln Handicap, but has run well in Class 2 company at York in the past (October 2017); others more convincing overall.
On a hat-trick following 7f-7½f wins at Newmarket and Lingfield; clearly improving and handles the majority of conditions, but this is a whole host more challenging off a 4lb higher mark.
Non-Runners
2
(14)
Seniority20
Weight: 9-8|Â Â Age: 4
T: W J Haggas  J: R L Moore
NR
8
(7)
Gulf Of Poets110
Weight: 9-3|Â Â Age: 6
T: M & D Easterby  J: Nathan Evans
NR
Forecasts
Kynren (5/1), Sharja Bridge (5/1), Afaak (5/1), Seniority (5/1), Firmament (13/2), Original Choice (8/1), Get Knotted (10/1), Reach High (12/1), Gulf Of Poets (16/1), Poet's Society (20/1), Silver Line (20/1), Mubtasim (20/1), Sea Fox (20/1), Arcanada (20/1), Hors De Combat (25/1), Bravery (25/1), Love Dreams (33/1), Baraweez (40/1), Mythical Madness (40/1), Dommersen (66/1)
Probably one of the toughest handicaps of the week on the Knavesmire with masses to consider and fine margins in form-lines plentiful. Firmament has a strong race record and looks to be the obvious leading light from the David O'Meara yard (and from an increasingly competitive handicap mark). Reach High is unexposed for Saeed Bin Suroor, so any market confidence could prove worth following whilst the likes of Seniority, Original Choice and Afaak all bring rock-solid Class 2 handicap form into the race. However, HORS DE COMBAT has also performed well in top handicaps all summer and certain to be finishing off strongly represents clear each-way value.
- Hors De Combat
- Afaak
- Firmament
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: £52,912.002nd: £15,844.003rd: £7,922.004th: £3,961.005th: £1,980.006th: £994.00
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