16:15 Thirsk

Saturday 4 May 2019

All14:0014:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

Cliff Stud Thirsk Hunt Cup Handicap

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 1m 37.49s

(1)

Waarif¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: C J McGovern⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 97| D

11/1

Progressed very well in handicap compnay last term winning four times, and shaped with promise at Bath last time off 1lb higher mark. Represents good yard and not out of it despite steadier of top weight.

Form: 1029-07

(3)

Firmament¹⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 95| D

20/1

Been a smart handicapper in his day but is not easy to win with and is only 4-46 overall. Hasn't scored since 2016 but is fairly weighted on pick of last term's form. Needs everything to go right for him though.

Form: 5V6334-

(7)

Dawaaleeb^v²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Cieren Fallon⁽⁷⁾| T: J L Eyre| OR: 92| D

7/1

Won three last season, second victory coming off mark of 89 at Redcar. Shaped with promise on both runs so far this term and booking of good 7lb claimer gives him every chance from fair draw with his stalking style of racing set to suit here.

Form: 1042-45

(8)

King's Slipper²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 91| D

4/1

Won two of last four starts over a mile on AW and scored over same trip at Windsor last term. In good heart and top yard having first runner here for over five years. Open to improvement on this surface.

Form: 52182-1

(15)

Borodin²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: P Mathers| T: R A Fahey| OR: 91| CD

9/4

Goes really well here with two wins and two good seconds to his name from four attempts. Fine third on reappearance in Newbury Spring Cup and runs off same mark. Looks sure to be thereabouts.

Form: 22013-3

(13)

Anythingtoday^p¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Cam Hardie| T: D O'Meara| OR: 91

20/1

Last two wins have come over 1m2f and shaped well over that trip until getting tired close him at Ripon on reappearance. Lost his way last term and now feasibly handicaped on pick of form so is of interest. One of three stable representatives.

Form: 9/5P00-4

(2)

Baraweez²⁰⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-1| J: Ben Robinson⁽³⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 91| D

33/1

Useful handicapper on his day who likes a sharp track and won twice last spring at Chester. Needs gaps to come for him but of more concern is poor record returning from a break so absence looks against him.

Form: 607780-

(14)

Fennaan^h³²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: S H James| T: Phillip Makin| OR: 89

11/1

Won three times over 7f for John Gosden. Sold for 37,000 guienas at October Sales to current connections and stayed on to be fair firth at Musselburgh on first run this campaign. Tackles mile for first time and may improve for it.

Form: 51800-5

(5)

King's Pavilion¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: J Quinn| T: J Ward| OR: 89| D

50/1

Made all to score over a mile at Haydock in September but has run poorly on both starts so far this term and doesn't look to be in the best of from at present.

Form: 4524-80

(16)

Commander Han^p¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 89

14/1

Only win so far came over 7f but has run respectably in three previous attempts at the mile. Wide draw could make life tough though and will do well to score with that in mind.

Form: 05532-3

(12)

Raselasad¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: R Ffrench| T: Miss Tracy Waggott| OR: 88| C

20/1

Front-runner who wil have to work hard to lead from widish draw, and faded last time at Musselburgh in similar circumstances. Eased 1lb but others make more appeal.

Form: 0351-25

(10)

Hayadh¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 88

14/1

All four career successes have come over 7f and has yet to hit the target in eight attempts beyond that trip. In decent form of late but likely to be found out at this level over the mile.

Form: 3010-32

(4)

Parys Mountain^h¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 88| D

25/1

Landed handicap at York over a mile last June and won twice over 7f at end of turf season. Slow away and well beaten at Musselburgh on reappearance and is 6lb higher than last success.

Form: 90311-8

(9)

Intrepidly^p³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: S Donohoe| T: C Fellowes| OR: 86

20/1

Stays well. Last win came over 1m2f at Windsor in 2017 for Jeremy Noseda. Placed twce from three starts on AW for current yard but hasn't run on turf for 20 months. Yard has impressive 36% strike rate here so is worth considering.

Form: 804-292

(11)

Garrick¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Rachel Richardson| T: T D Easterby| OR: 85| D

40/1

Won mile Newcastle AW maiden on debut for John Gosden in 2017 but no success since and bought to join current yard for 22,000 guineas at October Sales. Inauspicious start whe unseated rider 3f out at Musselburgh last month although shaped well.

Form: 72/327-U

(6)

Nicholas T⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: Jamie Gormley⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 85| D

12/1

Won three mile handicaps in summer 2017 but has struggled off higehr marks over variety of trips since then. Not bad effort when fifth on seasonal return and decent apprentice claims valuable 3lb.

Form: 78700-5

Forecasts

Borodin (9/4), King's Slipper (4/1), Dawaaleeb (7/1), Fennaan (11/1), Waarif (11/1), Nicholas T (12/1), Hayadh (14/1), Commander Han (14/1), Intrepidly (20/1), Firmament (20/1), Anythingtoday (20/1), Raselasad (20/1), Parys Mountain (25/1), Baraweez (33/1), Garrick (40/1), King's Pavilion (50/1)

A typically well contested renewal of this historic mile handicap, but if BORODIN can overcome his wide draw he should give a very good account of himself. He loves the track and ran very well in a good event on his reappearance. Dawaleeb looks to have been primed for this and is a danger, along with the likes of Intrepidly, Fenaan and King's Slipper. David O'Meara saddles three, with top weight Waarif possibly the pick of the trio.