16:50 York

Thursday 23 August 2018

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

British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies' Handicap

Off time: 16:52 | Winning time: 1m 23.35s

(9)

Victory Wave^h²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Harry Bentley| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 99| D

13/2

Won two of her three starts on turf, and arrives seeking a hat-trick after an all out head win from Amandine at Newmarket (7f, good to soft) last month; raised 3lb but switching back to quicker ground isn't an issue.

Form: 124411

(13)

Lincoln Rocks¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 98| CD

14/1

Struggled in the main (often in Listed and Group races) since winning this from a 2lb higher mark in 2017 (on good to soft); handles good to firm ground; repeat unlikely.

Form: 325075

(2)

Summer Icon⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Scott McCullagh⁽⁷⁾| T: M R Channon| OR: 93| D

33/1

Returns from a short break following a hectic first few months of 2018, but doesn't win all that often (just the once on turf in 23 starts), and that was way back in May 2016; could ideally do with some help from the assessor.

Form: 260260

(12)

Betty F^b²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: L Dettori| T: J Noseda| OR: 97| D

8/1

Lightly raced filly who is on a naturally progressive upward curve; beat Right Direction by a neck at Doncaster (7f novice) in June, before a solid staying on seventh of 16 (25/1) in the Group 3 Oak Tree Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

Form: 18-3017

(3)

Preening²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: W Buick| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 97

7/1

Came up a fraction short in Listed races at Sandown and Ascot (both 1m) during July; now 14lb higher than when making a winning handicap debut in June; quick ground fine and a drop in trip isn't necessarily a negative.

Form: 71-2133

(7)

Starlight Romance²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 90| CD

14/1

Has shown rock-solid handicap from at this track since mid-June (overall record here reads 3,4,3,7,11,7,1,7,2); competes off the same handicap mark as when beaten ½L by Get Knotted last month.

Form: 07-7172

(5)

Florenza²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: M Stainton| T: C W Fairhurst| OR: 90| D

33/1

Evidently needed her first run of the season (finished last of six to today's rival Victory Wave), but back on track with an all the way 3L win in a Class 3 7f Doncaster fillies' handicap latest; 5lb higher.

Form: 3907-61

(11)

Maggies Angel¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Oakley Brown⁽⁷⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 95

50/1

Not won since her debut at Ripon in April 2017 (5f), and essentially out of her depth in Listed and Group races since a promising seasonal return at Musselburgh in June (7f, good); stamina reservations and ground worries.

Form: 223-299

(8)

Move Swiftly²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: James Doyle| T: W J Haggas| OR: 93| D

2/1

Beaten just once in four starts, making a successful turf and handicap debut when a comfortable winner of a 1m Class 3 fillies' handicap at Glorious Goodwood in July; raised 8lb and dropped in trip, but rates as a major player.

Form: 1-311

(15)

Crossing The Line⁵⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 92| D

14/1

Sports a 60% turf strike-rate (3 from 5), and would be unbeaten over this 7f trip but for being held by a neck by today's rival Clubbable at Chelmsford in June (similar weights today); 3lb above last winning mark (when awarded the race).

Form: 60-2121

(10)

Clubbable²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 92| CD

20/1

C&D winner (May 2018), who was beaten just a neck in the Listed Eternal Stakes at Carlisle (7f) in June; not quite so competitive since, but holds similar form claims to Chelmsford foe Crossing The Line.

Form: 171260

(1)

Homeopathic³³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: J Fanning| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 90| BF| D

20/1

Didn't appear to be obviously suited by stepping up in trip (1m) when a beaten 5/4f off this mark at Newbury in July, but well on top of the runner up Angel Of Darkness when winning immediately prior to that at Newmarket (7f, good to firm).

Form: 1-23918

(4)

Dark Intention¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: Paula Muir⁽⁵⁾| T: L A Mullaney| OR: 83| CD

14/1

Beat Sunday's Pontefract Listed winner Castle Hill Cassie by ¾L when scoring over C&D in June; 5lb higher, and whilst there or thereabouts in two runs since requires a career best performance back at her favourite track.

Form: 534147

(14)

Angel Of Darkness⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: S De Sousa| T: C Hills| OR: 82

16/1

Midfield (not beaten far) at Ascot latest, but 8lb better off for 1¼L with previous Newmarket conqueror Homeopathic; also finished 2L third to 14 to Lincoln Rocks in this race in 2017.

Form: 36-7028

(6)

Elysium Dream^b1¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Hannon| OR: 87| D

25/1

Picked up a weak 7f Class 4 contest at Brighton a fortnight ago (11/10f), but that was due reward for a consistent spell of form; more to do off 3lb higher with first-time blinkers added seeking that extra edge.

Form: 752261

Forecasts

Move Swiftly (2/1), Victory Wave (13/2), Preening (7/1), Betty F (8/1), Crossing The Line (14/1), Dark Intention (14/1), Lincoln Rocks (14/1), Starlight Romance (14/1), Angel Of Darkness (16/1), Clubbable (20/1), Homeopathic (20/1), Elysium Dream (25/1), Florenza (33/1), Summer Icon (33/1), Maggies Angel (50/1)

York specialists Starlight Romance and Dark Intention line up alongside the 2017 first and third Lincoln Rocks and Angel Of Darkness, but that quartet are considered unlikely scorers. Horses which do figure on the shortlist include the Listed competitive Preening, the unexposed and improving three-year-old Betty F, and the in-form top-weight Victory Wave. However, there's a potential pattern class performer lurking in the shape of the winning turf debutante MOVE SWIFTLY. The William Haggas-trained filly was a smooth winner at Glorious Goodwood (despite trouble) and a drop in trip and subsequent 8lb rise shouldn't prove problematic.