19:00 Ripon

Friday 10 May 2019

All18:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

New Look Catterick Opens 17th June Handicap

Off time: 19:05 | Winning time: 1m 12.7s

(9)

Dark Defender^b¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: D Tudhope| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 83| D

9/2

Good servant for Keith Dalgleish and was having first run for this stable when respectable fifth of 13 on recent seasonal reappearance at Thirsk. Down 1lb and has fair claims with the cobwebs blown away.

Form: 04310-5

(5)

Queens Gift²²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods| OR: 81| BF| CD

15/2

Winner over C&D on debut last year and looked promising on the majority of her others starts. Has more improvement in her this season and this looks a viable starting point for her.

Form: 121320-

(7)

Doc Sportello³²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: B A Curtis| T: A W Carroll| OR: 80| D

14/1

Kempton winner in January, but has been out of sorts on his last two runs. On a lenient handicap mark if the flame can be rekindled.

Form: 336-100

(6)

Sheepscar Lad¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Faye McManoman⁽⁵⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 78

7/2

Had Dark Defender behind when third at Thirsk recently. May have had a slight fitness advantage there so it could be close between the pair this time.

Form: 0480-53

(2)

Magical Effect¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 77| CD

9/2

On a long, losing streak but is usually thereabouts as was the case when a fairly close fourth of six at Redcar last month. Handicap mark continues to fall, but he is not one for win purposes.

Form: 5734-74

(8)

Final Go²⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: S H James| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 76| D

12/1

Decisive winner at Carlisle last August, but struggled off 6lb higher at that venue later that month. Not seen since and is 2lb lower, but may need this outing to put an edge on him.

Form: 424417-

(4)

Charming Guest⁶⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Callum Shepherd| T: M R Channon| OR: 73| D

8/1

Won three times last year and was having her first run of this campaign when respectable sixth of 12 at Chelmsford in March. Prospects off 1lb lower and any rain would not be an inconvenience.

Form: 31688-6

(3)

Explain^b¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: A Mullen| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 71| CD

11/2

Last victory came over 7f, but he is effective over this C&D. Has not been seen to best advantage in two starts this season, but stable has been among the winners so he is not one to write off.

Form: 2175-05

(1)

Music Society^h1²²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Rachel Richardson| T: T D Easterby| OR: 71

20/1

First run for this yard since he left Sylvester Kirk's stable when down the field over C&D last month. Capable of better and that may be the case with a hood fitted for the first time.

Form: 60600-0

Forecasts

Sheepscar Lad (7/2), Dark Defender (9/2), Magical Effect (9/2), Explain (11/2), Queens Gift (15/2), Charming Guest (8/1), Final Go (12/1), Doc Sportello (14/1), Music Society (20/1)

Charming Guest has quite strong claims and would be suited by any rain, but QUEENS GIFT looked promising last year, has few miles on the clock and may be capable of defying this mark on her seasonal reappearance. Dark Defender and Sheepscar Lad are closely matched on Thirsk form, while Explain may be the better of his stable's two representatives.