13:55 York

Friday 24 August 2018

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

Sky Bet Handicap

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 2m 30.15s

(16)

Melting Dew^p²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: R L Moore| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 102

6/1

Only narrowly denied in hat-trick bid at Goodwood last time having previously won in impressive fashion in a competitive race at Sandown. 5lb rise fair for that effort and improving at present. Drop in trip no concern.

Form: 20-4112

(8)

First Nation²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 101| D

5/1

Made his belated reappearance at Ascot last month. May come on for that run and only 5lb higher than when winning a valuable handicap at Newmarket towards the end of last year. Better expected.

Form: 24521-4

(12)

Appeared^p²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: David Egan| T: R Varian| OR: 101| CD

12/1

Won at Ascot on reappearance last year but seemingly struggling to land a blow from his revised handicap mark. Step back up in trip would appear to be in his favour.

Form: 258-499

(10)

Pacify²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: D Tudhope| T: R M Beckett| OR: 100| CD

15/2

C&D winner when justifying favouritism in impressive fashion last month. The race at Goodwood last time didn't play to his strengths but has struggled from this sort of handicap mark before and others likely on better marks.

Form: 7-46215

(20)

Erik The Red^p²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 98

14/1

Should come on from his reappearance at Doncaster last time out and has placed on four of his six visits to this venue but all his best from has come at shorter trips than this and he looks vulnerable against some less exposed types.

Form: 90138-4

(13)

Kelly's Dino^p²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: B A Curtis| T: K R Burke| OR: 95| D

8/1

Won at Carlisle on return and while well beaten at Ayr next time, he bounced back with a solid effort at Deauville before winning at Ascot last time. Improving at present and 5lb rise looks fair for that success.

Form: 271821

(15)

Titus⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: G C O'Neill⁽⁵⁾| T: D Carroll| OR: 92

8/1

Good fourth of 19 in a competitive race here last time out. There could be more to come over this new trip and less exposed than many in here. Left on the same mark by the handicapper.

Form: 013384

(19)

Royal Reserve²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Hayley Turner| T: M L W Bell| OR: 91| D

33/1

Very disappointing when attempting to back up an impressive Leicester success at Newmarket last time. Has never won from a mark this high but still early days for this yard and there may be more to come.

Form: 278218

(1)

Mister Belvedere¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Paula Muir⁽⁵⁾| T: M Dods| OR: 91| CD

12/1

C&D winner on seasonal return when beating Pacify before that re-opposing rival reversed the form back here next time. Got his head back in front at Haydock last time and he's improving at present.

Form: 7-20121

(5)

Reshoun^p1³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Jim Crowley| T: Ian Williams| OR: 90| D

14/1

Won on final start of 2017 but he's been below par in three efforts this time around. Handicapper is giving him a chance but he was beaten a long way out last time and hard to fancy on that evidence. Wears first time cheekpieces.

Form: 231-600

(18)

Dance King^p,t¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-12| J: T Hamilton| T: T D Easterby| OR: 90| D

50/1

Very inconsistent this year, winning one of his seven starts, a six-runner event at Musselburgh. Poor in three runs since though and didn't beat a rival home last time out at Ayr. Has historically struggled off marks this high.

Form: 671080

(14)

Maori Bob¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Cameron Noble⁽⁵⁾| T: M L W Bell| OR: 90| D

28/1

Consistent sort, won back to back races in July before a couple of respectable efforts in defeat, particularly last time out at Ascot when he and the rest of the field gave the two leaders too much rope. Remains capable of better.

Form: 331133

(2)

Mukhayyam^p¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 89| CD

16/1

C&D winner earlier in the campaign and while he's been running well in defeat from his revised handicap mark, he's never won from a mark quite this high and this is a particularly competitive event.

Form: 251442

(11)

Super Kid^t⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: Rachel Richardson| T: T D Easterby| OR: 88| D

66/1

Back to something like his best when an impressive winner at Wolverhampton at a big price. Poor last week at Chelmsford but it's still early days for this yard and he may be capable of better.

Form: 300415

(17)

Theglasgowwarrior²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: P J McDonald| T: J S Goldie| OR: 87| D

14/1

Has been on the go for some time having had a busy AW campaign over the winter. Has been in good form since returning to turf this campaign and while edging up the weights, remains competitive. Each-way claims again.

Form: 128123

(9)

Atkinson Grimshaw¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: J P Sullivan| T: I Jardine| OR: 85| D

33/1

Won twice last year and while he's yet to get his head in front in five starts for his new connections, he's run well in defeat on a couple of occasions. Needs to learn to settle better though and too keen again at Haydock last time.

Form: 3-20203

(3)

Caliburn¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: L Morris| T: H Palmer| OR: 93| D

12/1

Impressive wide margin winner at Haydock on just his third start. Found Group 3 company tough in follow up bid but returned with a better effort down in class last time out. 1lb drop could prove lenient and will appreciate the step back up in trip.

Form: 53163

(7)

Never Surrender²²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: P Hanagan| T: C Hills| OR: 82| D

20/1

Gained a first win since his maiden success at Epsom last time out. 5lb higher in a deeper race leaves him needing more here but should get a decent pace to aim at and not one to rule out.

Form: 409431

Non-Runners

(4)

Archi's Affaire³⁴

Weight: 8-10| Age: 4

T: M Dods J: A Mullen

(6)

Moonmeister⁶⁸

Weight: 8-1| Age: 7

T: A J Martin J: Non Runner

Forecasts

First Nation (5/1), Melting Dew (6/1), Pacify (15/2), Titus (8/1), Kelly's Dino (8/1), Mister Belvedere (12/1), Appeared (12/1), Caliburn (12/1), Erik The Red (14/1), Reshoun (14/1), Theglasgowwarrior (14/1), Mukhayyam (16/1), Moonmeister (16/1), Never Surrender (20/1), Maori Bob (28/1), Royal Reserve (33/1), Atkinson Grimshaw (33/1), Archi's Affaire (33/1), Dance King (50/1), Super Kid (66/1)

MELTING DEW went close last time out at Goodwood and with more progress on the cards for his patient handler, the four-year-old could be a pattern level performer in the making. Titus may improve for the step up in trip after a smart win last time while Caliburn is entirely unexposed on just his sixth start and he's another who could improve for the extra distance here.