15:35 York

Thursday 16 May 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:0516:3517:05

Matchbook Betting Podcast Hambleton Handicap

Off time: 15:37 | Winning time: 1m 38.15s

(8)

Plutonian³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: James Doyle| T: C Hills| OR: 101| D

10/1

Hasn't won since a Windsor success in May last year but has run some nice races in defeat since and ran well for a long way in a competitive Newbury handicap on return last month. Interesting he sticks at this trip and looks feasibly handicapped.

Form: 12926-5

(6)

Escobar^t¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 100| D

12/1

Won his first two starts in 2016 and gained a first win since at Haydock in June. Very consistent sort generally but hasn't been himself in two starts this season and needs to bounce back; yard in form at least.

Form: 0302-09

(7)

Beringer²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: A King| OR: 99| D

9/2

Made it four wins from 13 turf starts at Newmarket last time out. Didn't have much left in the tank that day so could find this tougher from 3lb higher in what looks a deeper race.

Form: 2329-31

(14)

Tricorn²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 97| D

66/1

Won three of his first four starts back in 2017 but has gone the wrong way subsequently. Purchased for 35,000 gns out of John Gosden's yard in February but showed nothing on return at Bath last time.

Form: 30200-0

(16)

What's The Story^p¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: J Fanning| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 96| D

9/1

In good form at the start of 2018 and followed up a win at Newcastle with an excellent fourth in a competitive handicap at Royal Ascot. Returned with a smart effort at Newcastle earlier this month and looks feasibly handicapped now returned to 1m.

Form: 14600-3

(18)

Hortzadar²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 96| D

7/1

Won a minor race in France but has improved since joining this outfit, winning at Pontefract before a Redcar success last time out. Step back up in trip should suit and not one to rule out, despite an inflated handicap mark.

Form: 3218-11

(17)

Waarif^p¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: C J McGovern⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 95| D

20/1

Fairly prolific last season, winning four times and finds himself back on his last winning handicap mark after some below par performances. Yard are starting to hit form and it was a respectable effort in the Thirsk Hunt Cup last time behind Hayadh.

Form: 029-076

(11)

Love Dreams^b¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 95

8/1

Has returned to form in recent starts and looked like the winner for a long way at Goodwood last time before getting caught late. Up 2lb for that but still feasibly handicapped and expected to go well at a course he ran well at last year.

Form: 06-0922

(2)

Bless Him^h²⁷⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: J P Spencer| T: D M Simcock| OR: 95| BF| D

12/1

Won twice as a three-year-old but has seemingly been difficult to train since and looks on a downward spiral. Has a bit to prove in a race this deep.

Form: 15/6937-

(5)

Firmament^p¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: S A Gray| T: D O'Meara| OR: 93| CD

20/1

Often shapes better than he finishes and losing run goes all the way back to 2016. C&D winner and there's no doubting he's on an attractive handicap mark but needs to show a better attitude if he's going to get his head in front; yard in form.

Form: V6334-0

(4)

Hayadh¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 91| D

14/1

Very consistent sort and deservedly got his head back in front in Thirsk's Hunt Cup last time out. 3lb rise possibly a bit lenient for that and he must have each-way claims again; goes on any ground.

Form: 010-321

(10)

Mutafani³³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: S De Sousa| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 91| D

5/1

Arrives bidding for a hat-trick and getting better with every start but returns from nearly a year off the trackand while his trainer is adept at prepping them for comeback runs, this is a tough race; 6lb higher in the handicap for this.

Form: 9311-

(9)

Commander Han^p¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 90

20/1

Just one win from 12 starts but has been very consistent and put up close to a career best when only finding Hayadh too good at Thirsk last time out. Nudged up 1lb but can go well again here.

Form: 5532-32

(13)

Ulshaw Bridge^p²²³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Oisin Murphy| T: J D Bethell| OR: 89| C| D

16/1

Course winner who got his head back in front at Doncaster last season. Just 2lb above that winning mark here, despite some fair efforts in defeat and fast ground over 1m are just about his optimum conditions; can go well if ready on return.

Form: 212943-

Non-Runners

(12)

Ledham¹⁹

Weight: 8-13| Age: 4

T: Sir Michael Stoute J: Non Runner

(15)

Just Hiss¹⁹

Weight: 8-13| Age: 6

T: T D Easterby J: Rachel Richardson

(3)

Donncha⁶⁸

Weight: 8-9| Age: 8

T: S Spencer J: Sean Davis

(1)

Mikmak²

Weight: 8-8| Age: 6

T: T D Easterby J: D Allan

Forecasts

Beringer (9/2), Mutafani (5/1), Hortzadar (7/1), Ledham (7/1), Love Dreams (8/1), What's The Story (9/1), Plutonian (10/1), Bless Him (12/1), Escobar (12/1), Just Hiss (12/1), Hayadh (14/1), Ulshaw Bridge (16/1), Firmament (20/1), Waarif (20/1), Commander Han (20/1), Donncha (25/1), Mikmak (33/1), Tricorn (66/1)

A case could be made for half of this field but a chance is taken on ULSHAW BRIDGE in the hope he's ready first time up this season. He was running consistently well towards the back end of last year and seems to appreciate a straight mile on fast ground. Hayadh and Commander Han are both worth considering after a close dual in a decent race at Thirsk last time while Firmament is too well-handicapped to ignore.