19:40 Thirsk

Monday 29 April 2019

All17:0517:4018:1018:4019:1019:4020:10

thirskraces Conference Centre Handicap

Off time: 19:50 | Winning time: 2m 35.56s

(17)

Subliminal²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: G Lee| T: S Dow| OR: 65| BF

8/1

All-weather winner over 1m2f at Lingfield in March and has run well there since off this mark. First turf start in Britain and lightly-raced sort is entitled to get involved if handling this extra 2f.

Form: 355123

(12)

Nevada^p³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: P J McDonald| T: S Gollings| OR: 65

7/2

Runner-up three times in AW handicaps at Newcastle over this trip since January. Rated 1lb higher than most recent of those now back on turf, can have a say again on form.

Form: 217-222

(3)

Buckland Boy^p¹⁸¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: S Donohoe| T: C Fellowes| OR: 65| BF

8/1

Heavily supported at Kempton (1m4f, AW) penultimate start, and showed much improved form, pulling 6L clear with another improver. Disappointing favourite since at Wolverhampton, 3lb higher back on grass.

Form: 574927-

(15)

Star Ascending^p²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Sean Davis⁽⁵⁾| T: J Candlish| OR: 64| D

33/1

Prolific on the AW (10-42, with 10 placed effort) but previously only 1-17 on turf. Returns to this sphere from lower mark but has been struggling in three starts since January's Wolverhampton success.

Form: 5-31876

(9)

Airplane¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Rachel Richardson| T: T D Easterby| OR: 64| D

40/1

Second turf win arrived at Catterick (1m4f, good) in September when making all and remaining unchallenged (rated 60). Bitterly disappointing in two of three runs since when unable to get his own way in front.

Form: 74104-0

(5)

Epitaph^v²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Theodore Ladd⁽⁵⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 60| D

14/1

Scored in a Wolverhampton claimer in February over this trip, his second AW success, but is 0-15 previously on turf and makes little appeal after this month's tailed off effort at Dunstall Park in a handicap.

Form: 713248

(10)

Duke Of Alba²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: J Fanning| T: J Mackie| OR: 60| BF

11/4

10-race maiden but promising efforts both previous starts on turf, latest when never-nearer fourth of 1m2f at Redcar (good) off this mark three weeks ago. Well worth a crack over this longer trip.

Form: 34-6324

(6)

Zig Zag^p⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: T Hamilton| T: P A Kirby| OR: 58| CD

25/1

2-20 on turf in this code, but both wins on slower ground. Won here this month last year, when 1lb lower. Has since won over hurdles, and not written off on his return to this code.

Form: 152679-

(13)

Gabriel's Oboe²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: D C Costello| T: M Walford| OR: 57

100/1

Wide gaps have come in between his first four runs, with ability seemingly in short supply. No danger at Redcar this month (1m2f, good) on latest return, though is at least coming out quite quickly again.

Form: 7/06-0

(16)

Highland Bobby^h¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: S A Gray| T: D O'Meara| OR: 57

20/1

Just 1-15 previously on the Flat, landing 1m soft-ground Wetherby handicap in April last year, modest over hurdles during the winter but could have a challenge in him back on the level from this perch.

Form: 65780-5

(1)

Motahassen¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Cam Hardie| T: D Carroll| OR: 57| BF

14/1

Broke his duck at Carlisle (1m1f, soft) in August, and creditable efforts over further on last two starts of 2018. Disappointing favourite at Southwell on reappearance, perhaps simply not taking to that Fibresand. Worth another chance.

Form: 14255-7

(8)

Richard Strauss¹²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: K Stott| T: P A Kirby| OR: 56

16/1

Poor strike rate (2-20) on the Flat, won a 2m Catterick handicap in the autumn and followed it with Musselburgh hurdles success. Possibly going to need this run, but on fair mark if ready to roll.

Form: 233441-

(2)

Point Of Honour¹⁸¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 55

18/1

Placed only once in eight starts, seven of them on turf. Already plunging down the handicap, but needs to up his game on this seasonal return to take advantage.

Form: 350500-

(14)

Bravantina³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Jason Hart| T: M Walford| OR: 55

66/1

Showed ability when runner-up in all-weather bumper at Newcastle (2m½f; 16-1) in January but has gone backwards since in four runs. Turf handicap debut comes at a modest level, so merits at least a check for market confidence.

Form: 689

(7)

The Fiddler¹⁹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: D Allan| T: C F Wall| OR: 53| BF

14/1

10-race maiden, handicap mark has slipped 10lb since tame beginning at Nottingham (1m2f, good to soft) a year ago. Needs to raise game off the back of 193-day layoff to be in with a chance.

Form: 767U58-

Non-Runners

(4)

Decima¹⁵³

Weight: 9-6| Age: 5

T: M & D Easterby J: Nathan Evans

(11)

Nearly There¹⁸

Weight: 8-10| Age: 6

T: W Storey J: D Fentiman

Forecasts

Duke Of Alba (11/4), Nevada (7/2), Buckland Boy (8/1), Subliminal (8/1), Decima (12/1), Motahassen (14/1), The Fiddler (14/1), Epitaph (14/1), Richard Strauss (16/1), Point Of Honour (18/1), Highland Bobby (20/1), Nearly There (20/1), Zig Zag (25/1), Star Ascending (33/1), Airplane (40/1), Bravantina (66/1), Gabriel's Oboe (100/1)

The majority of the likely market principles are reverting from all-weather to turf, which adds a degree of the unknown. Cases can be made for plenty but DUKE OF ALBA was doing his best work at the finish last time at Redcar and might be the one now upped in trip. Subliminal has yet to run on turf in Britain and merits respect while Nevada and course winner Zig Zag go on the shortlist. Motahassen is forgiven a poor effort on Southwell's Fibresand recently and should have better in him.