16:40 Thirsk

Wednesday 3 July 2019

All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:4017:1017:40

Sri Lanka Staying Strong Handicap

Off time: 16:41 | Winning time: 1m 10.47s

(9)

Wentworth Falls^p⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: S H James| T: G A Harker| OR: 94| D

3/1

Hasn't won since April 2017 but has run some fine races in defeat and has shown he has it in him to win soon. Usual slow start at York on Saturday before stayed on well and has good chance if he doesn't give them too much rope.

Form: 3-52265

(8)

Moon Trouble²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 91| D

6/1

Ex-French gelding who won at the fifth time of asking for his current yard when popping up at Chelmsford last time out. 6lb higher now and any rain would do his cause no harm at all.

Form: 5-66841

(5)

Muscika^v³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 90| CD

7/2

Won over C&D in May off 3lb lower mark and not disgraced back at 5f last time in hot York handicap. Better at this trip and yard continuing in fine form with 20% strike rate at present.

Form: 43-6610

(3)

Pipers Note²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: J Garritty| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 89| D

28/1

Ripon specialist but has looked out of sorts on last three runs having gone very close at Pontefract the time before. Eased 3lb after finishing last at his beloved 'Garden Racecourse' last time and is hard to fancy on current evidence.

Form: 0-92000

(6)

Gracious John⁷⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: A Mullen| T: P D Evans| OR: 88| D

28/1

Tough as teak gelding who has won a fine 12-61 starts, but most of those wins have been at the minimum trip. Hasn't been at his best this term and handicapper has given him a real chance if able to bounce back.

Form: 643487

(4)

Dark Defender^b²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 88| D

16/1

Won six for Keith Dalgleish and scored on only second start for current yard when winning at Ripon in May off 83. 5lb higher here and got stuck in the heavy ground at Haydock last time. Hasn't really shone on two previous visits here.

Form: 310-519

(2)

Pennsylvania Dutch¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 86| CD

12/1

Been in cracking form this season, winning four times, including twice over C&D. Looked to have been nabbed by handicapper when failing to figure here last time but too early to count him out altogether.

Form: 111018

(1)

Royal Prospect¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: P Mulrennan| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 85| CD

7/2

Unexposed young sprint handicapper who showed good attitude to win over C&D last time off 4lb lower mark on only his second turf outing. Could be more to come and looks shortlist material.

Form: 41/1-461

(7)

The Armed Man²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Paula Muir⁽⁵⁾| T: C W Fairhurst| OR: 84| CD

7/1

Has a 4-8 record over this C&D, but last win here came off 9lb lower mark. Scored at Redcar in April off just 2lb lower so a bold show cannot be ruled out but feeling he may just be in handicapper's grip now.

Form: 054-174

Forecasts

Wentworth Falls (3/1), Muscika (7/2), Royal Prospect (7/2), Moon Trouble (6/1), The Armed Man (7/1), Pennsylvania Dutch (12/1), Dark Defender (16/1), Pipers Note (28/1), Gracious John (28/1)

A good handicap sprint can go to the unexposed and progressive four-year-old ROYAL PROSPECT who won nicley here last time and there could be more to follow. Wentworth Falls deserves a win and again ran well at York a few days ago. He'll be finishing better than anything but often gives himself too much to do. Muscika will appreciate the return to this trip after being taken off his feet over 5f last time in a hot race and should be thereabouts, as too should Pennsylvania Dutch and Moon Trouble.