15:45 York

Saturday 25 May 2019

All14:0014:3515:0515:4516:1516:5017:25

William Hill Leading On Course Bookmaker Sprint Handicap

Off time: 15:48 | Winning time: 58.33s

(4)

Marnie James^t⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: R Winston| T: I Jardine| OR: 105| CD

16/1

Consistent five-time winner who always runs well here. Beaten a 1L by Copper Knight here latest into third and given he's now 4lb better off reversal is distinctly possible; obvious claims.

Form: 31-6803

(15)

Copper Knight^t⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 105| CD

6/1

Three-time 2018 winner had a whole host of these behind when winning over C&D last time out (good to firm). 5lb rise to career-high mark makes life tougher but no surprise if he makes another bold bid.

Form: 441-421

(8)

El Astronaute¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Dylan Hogan⁽⁵⁾| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 105| CD

9/2

Twice a winner here last season (5½f and 5f) and should be suited better than midfield effort in 6f Group Two here last time out. Handicap is high enough to ask for very best form but he usually delivers that here.

Form: 121-266

(14)

Gunmetal²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: R P Downey| T: T D Barron| OR: 103

20/1

Had a productive 2018 having joined this yard, winning three of six starts. Could improve on midfield return at Newmarket latest but all of his career wins over further so flat 5f may not play to his strengths.

Form: 13010-5

(7)

A Momentofmadness¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: C O'Donoghue| T: C Hills| OR: 102| BF| D

14/1

Likable sort won three decent handicaps in 2018 but evidence so far indicates that handicap marks in three figures tend to prove beyond him and that remains the case here.

Form: 2019-73

(3)

Acqume^b¹¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: A Kirby| T: Toby Edmonds| OR: 96| D

20/1

Three-time Australian winner from 4½f-6f makes her debut in this country, Hart to gauge what we should expect here but Aussies sprinters as good as anywhere in the world so doubt she can't cope.

Form: 2896-12

(18)

Koditime²⁷⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: C Lee| T: C G Cox| OR: 94| CD

25/1

C&D winner first time out last season but form tailed off quite severely afterwards. Also won first-time out at two however so perhaps one best caught fresh and therefore not ruled out.

Form: 126900-

(10)

Leodis Dream¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 100| D

7/2

Second on debut but since won all five starts including three handicaps already this season. Up a further 6lb for Chester win last time out but rate of progress such that he simply has to be considered.

Form: 211-111

(12)

Orvar⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: Barry McHugh| T: P T Midgley| OR: 92| D

66/1

Won a couple of nice races over 5f last season but yet to fire this year here or in Dubai. 15th of 21 behind Copper Knight over C&D latest and that leaves plenty to prove.

Form: 1-44770

(6)

Abel Handy^b1⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: T Hamilton| T: D Carroll| OR: 92| D

20/1

Gained a first win since his juvenile days when winning at Musselburgh two starts back but well held since off this 5lb higher mark behind Copper Knight (14th of 21). Blinkers will need to have a positive effect.

Form: 699-410

(2)

Lord Riddiford¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 91| D

14/1

Rattled off a hat-trick last season and returned to form at the end of the campaign with an excellent third of 22 at Doncaster in October. Best when allowed to dominate which he wasn't on return; tough to make all here too.

Form: 19593-7

(17)

Muscika^v⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: C J McGovern⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 90

25/1

Arrives in good form having battled to success at Thirsk last time out. 3lb rise for winning 14-runner contest quite lenient but nagging doubt is that all of his wins come over 6f.

Form: 543-661

(13)

Eeh Bah Gum⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Rachel Richardson| T: T D Easterby| OR: 88| CD

8/1

C&D success one of five wins last term and back to form latest in second 2019 start when fourth of 21 to Copper Knight, again over C&D. 5lb better off now with that rival and could very easily reverse; likable profile.

Form: 2517-04

(5)

Acclaim The Nation^p¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-6| J: P Hanagan| T: E J Alston| OR: 87| D

16/1

Won twice on AW this winter and good form carried over to turf with seconds at Bath and Ripon, the latest despite rearing as the stalls opened. This deeper and tougher contest but handicap remains within range.

Form: 21-2122

(9)

Holmeswood¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: K T O'Neill| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 87| CD

20/1

Four-time winner for Michael Dods but unsuccessful in 12 2018 starts. Well held recently on stable debut too so enough doubts to look elsewhere.

Form: 84208-0

(16)

Dark Shot^p⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-5| J: P Mathers| T: S Dixon| OR: 86| D

25/1

Still hasn't won for this stable and since 2016 but run well both starts this term including C&D fifth to Copper Knight latest who he's now 5lb better off with. His time will surely come this season and if everything drops right it could be here.

Form: 4500-25

(19)

Duke Of Firenze⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 8-4| J: Phil Dennis| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 85| CD

16/1

Much-loved veteran perhaps not quite the force of old but showed plenty of enthusiasm remains when winning at Thirsk last time out. Up 3lb now but as a dual C&D winner in the past that not enough to rule him out here.

Form: 50-5521

(1)

Harome⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: Nicola Currie| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 85| CD

25/1

Impressive when bolting up over C&D last year and while he lost his way throughout the rest of the campaign, he now returns back to that mark for the first time since after finishing midfield behind Copper Knight latest.

Form: 1060-00

(11)

Canford Bay¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-2| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 83| D

33/1

Busy start to 2019 already yielded two Ripon wins the latest when beating Acclaim The Nation. 6lb rise as he goes up in class means a few nagging doubts now but may just have improved since turning five.

Form: 733151

Forecasts

Leodis Dream (7/2), El Astronaute (9/2), Copper Knight (6/1), Eeh Bah Gum (8/1), Lord Riddiford (14/1), A Momentofmadness (14/1), Duke Of Firenze (16/1), Marnie James (16/1), Acclaim The Nation (16/1), Gunmetal (20/1), Holmeswood (20/1), Acqume (20/1), Abel Handy (20/1), Dark Shot (25/1), Koditime (25/1), Harome (25/1), Muscika (25/1), Canford Bay (33/1), Orvar (66/1)

Narrowing this down to less than about 10 is not easy but a chance is taken on Tim Easterby's EEH BAH GUM who was fourth in a race won by Copper Knight latest, a whole host of rivals also ran there. He was progressive last season and could be ready to take another step forward and provide a popular local success. Lone three-year-old Leodis Dream is bidding for a six-timer and has to be seriously considered. Also high on the wish-list is Marnie James who was marginally ahead of the selection latest when third.