16:45 Thirsk

Friday 31 August 2018

All14:0014:3015:0515:4016:1516:4517:1517:50

Theakston Pale Ale Handicap

Off time: 16:47 | Winning time: 1m 11.2s

(6)

Wentworth Falls⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: F Norton| T: G A Harker| OR: 94| BF| D

7/1

Ran best race of the year when beaten narrowly by Summerghan at Nottingham last time, conceding the winner first run. Must have a big chance if repeating that effort, and consistency is hard to knock.

Form: 98-2432

(4)

Big Tour^p1³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Jason Watson⁽³⁾| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 93| BF

5/1

Only had two starts so far this year and ran well at Newcastle (7f, AW) last time having looked in need of the run the time before. Not short of pace so drop in trip to 6f is interesting with cheekpieces added first time.

Form: 4110-64

(13)

Dakota Gold¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR: 91| C| D

3/1

Bounced back to form when a close up second of 20 at Ripon last time (1st in group). Needs to back that up now away from that venue but more than capable on a going day.

Form: 730062

(8)

Muscika²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: C J McGovern⁽⁵⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 87| CD

14/1

Still 4lb higher than when winning at Ayr ealier in the year. Form has tailed off somewhat since and is likely to find one or two of these a bit too strong.

Form: 127080

(11)

Captain Colby⁹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: D C Costello| T: P T Midgley| OR: 87| C| D

16/1

Certainly capable on a going day off this sort of mark. A long time though since he last got his head in front. Returns from a three-month break and needs to be at his peak to win here.

Form: 60-5366

(12)

Private Matter³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Sebastian Woods⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 86| D

25/1

Only 1lb higher than when winning at Catterick (6f, good) four starts back. Subsequent efforts have been well below par however and now needs to bounce back. Others preferred.

Form: 301075

(3)

Handsome Dude^b⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: A Elliott| T: T D Barron| OR: 85| D

33/1

Only had three starts so far this year including a win at Southwell on the Firbesand in January. Taken off his feet back there over 5f on Monday and should find this trip much more to his liking. Needs to do much more all the same.

Form: 003-100

(2)

Sheepscar Lad²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: N Tinkler| OR: 85| BF| C

10/1

Bounced back to form the last twice beaten just a head and ¾L the last twice. Conditions ideal and a big chance once again off just 1lb higher here today.

Form: 100422

(10)

Highland Acclaim^h³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: S H James| T: D O'Meara| OR: 85| D

16/1

Best form on a sound surface but ran a cracker on good to soft ground at Epsom on Tuesday despite stumbling coming out the stalls. Will be right in the thick of things again here if getting to the lead.

Form: 313392

(1)

Paddy Power¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: P J McDonald| T: R A Fahey| OR: 84| D

12/1

Having a good time of things having won at York off a 4lb lower mark three starts back and then going close at Ripon last time. Place claims at least if putting his best foot forward once again.

Form: 478104

(14)

Gin In The Inn¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 83| D

20/1

Slowly dropping down the weights and ran best race for a while at Ripon last time. Tends to run his best races off the back of a break though which makes his chance less appealing.

Form: 037668

(5)

Dalton^p²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Jason Hart| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 83| D

8/1

Has improved for a switch to this yard having won two of his last three. Another 5lb higher here which demands more but is a sprinter in fine form and there could be more to come.

Form: 060-141

(9)

Russian Realm¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 8-12| J: G Lee| T: P T Midgley| OR: 82| C| D

40/1

Solid performer on his day and has run some good races in defeat of late. Best effort come from off a solid pace with some cut in the ground so any rain would be a plus. Sound each-way claims if things fall right.

Form: 237290

(7)

Kenny The Captain¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: Rachel Richardson| T: T D Easterby| OR: 81| CD

16/1

Slowly improving for each run so far this year and should be at somewhere approaching peak fitness now. Still 8lb above last winning mark but is a previous C&D winner and more than capable of getting in the mix.

Form: 25-2355

Forecasts

Dakota Gold (3/1), Big Tour (5/1), Wentworth Falls (7/1), Dalton (8/1), Sheepscar Lad (10/1), Paddy Power (12/1), Muscika (14/1), Highland Acclaim (16/1), Captain Colby (16/1), Kenny The Captain (16/1), Gin In The Inn (20/1), Private Matter (25/1), Handsome Dude (33/1), Russian Realm (40/1)

BIG TOUR is a very interesting runner dropping back to a sprint trip with Jason Watson claiming a valuable 3lb. He should be cherry ripe in fitness terms now and can get back to winning ways. Wentworth Falls will need everything to fall right but is very dangerous if getting a good pace to run at. Kenny The Captain gets in here off a nice racing weight and shouldn't be discounted.