15:40 Thirsk

Saturday 13 April 2019

All14:0014:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:2517:55

Scouting For Girls At thirskraces Friday 16th August Handicap

Off time: 15:44 | Winning time: 2m 31.45s

(8)

King's Advice⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 90| D

6/5

Frankel gelding; enjoyed a successful career in Germany prior to joining Mark Johnston; 3-3 on the AW in the UK (1m4f-1m6f), rising a combined total of 19lb in the weights; every likelihood that he can make all for a fourth successive victory.

Form: 6/10-111

(1)

Benadalid²²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: M Stainton| T: C W Fairhurst| OR: 86| D

10/1

Developed into a solid (improving) handicapper in the second half of 2018 with a pair of quick ground 1m4f successes at Chester and nearby Ripon; 3lb above his last winning mark on his first racecourse appearance since September.

Form: 321124-

(3)

Multellie¹⁶⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 86| D

40/1

A three-time 1m4f winner during the course of 2018, rising a combined total of 21lb in the weights since scoring at Pontefract (Class 5) in July; struggled to make his mark in Class 2 & 3's last back-end; stablemate of Super Kid.

Form: 241109-

(10)

Desert Ruler⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: J Garritty| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 85| D

14/1

Returned from a winter break in decent shape on the AW at Newcastle (1m4f), fending off Claire Underwood by ½L on his second start of the year; 4lb higher in the weights; unable to reach a challenging position at Leicester eight-days ago.

Form: 407-315

(4)

Stonific¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 84| CD

8/1

Productive in the early weeks of the turf season in 2018 (incl a Cl 4 C&D win); on a similar path this season, opening up with a 1L win at Doncaster (1m2f) a fortnight ago - form franked by the fourth Grandee (5L Newcastle winner on Thursday).

Form: 60600-1

(2)

Celestial Force¹⁹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: P J McDonald| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 83| CD

4/1

€75,000 yearling; showed promise early last season with smooth opening wins at Newcastle (1m2f) and over C&D (good to firm); failed to negotiate the step into handicap company (often keen), albeit it remains fairly early days; eased in the weights.

Form: 11406-

(7)

Armandihan^p¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 82| D

20/1

Not exactly the most frequent of winners, although he did manage a Class 3 handicap win at Pontefract (1m4f, good to firm) in August 2018, and ran well over C&D (soft) subsequently; has a high head carriage; work to do with Stifonic (Doncaster).

Form: 41207-0

(6)

Super Kid^t¹²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: Rachel Richardson| T: T D Easterby| OR: 82| D

50/1

Returned from a lengthy absence around this time in 2018, standing plenty of racing since (15 starts); stays well and dropping in the weights, although probably prefers some cut underfoot; seemingly the stable second string behind Multellie.

Form: 054468-

(9)

Starcaster¹⁸⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: J Mitchell| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 78

7/1

Left Hughie Morrison for 35,000gns in October; gelded for seasonal return/stable debut; 4lb above his last winning mark (Chepstow 1m2f, good to soft); this race rates as a tricky-looking starting point, especially on a sound surface.

Form: 841730-

Non-Runners

(5)

Starplex²

Weight: 8-8| Age: 9

T: Kenny Johnson J: A Mullen

Forecasts

King's Advice (6/5), Celestial Force (4/1), Starcaster (7/1), Stonific (8/1), Benadalid (10/1), Desert Ruler (14/1), Armandihan (20/1), Multellie (40/1), Super Kid (50/1), Starplex (66/1)

A Class 3 handicap with a multitude of interesting dimensions and a number of horses who are capable of winning more races in the future, with the likes of Benadalid and Celestial Force both firmly in mind. However, for today the pair to concentrate upon are KING'S ADVICE and Stifonic. The latter clearly thrives early in the season, is a C&D winner and saw his recent Doncaster form (1m2f) handsomely franked by Grandee at Newcastle on Thursday. That said, a strong preference is for the four-timer seeking 5yo Frankel gelding who is 3-3 for the Johnston yard, and is expected to jump out and make all around this sharp track for a fourth win on the bounce.