15:50 York

Saturday 13 July 2019

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

John Smith's Diamond Jubilee Cup Handicap

Off time: 15:52 | Winning time: 2m 10.38s

(24)

Afaak²⁴^{(ex 5)}

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Dane O'Neill| T: C Hills| OR: 103| C

14/1

Got the better of a tremendous battle to land the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot last time out (1m, soft). Less exposed at this trip but certainly rates a threat here under his 5lb penalty although the draw looks highly problematic.

Form: 24630-1

(3)

Mountain Angel²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: David Egan| T: R Varian| OR: 106| D

13/2

Better than ever in 2019 winning back-to-back 1m2f Epsom handicaps before far from disgraced in Listed company last time out. Could still be more to come and no better trainer at plotting one at big handicaps so is highly respected.

Form: 228-115

(20)

Mordin^p²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Seamus Cronin⁽⁵⁾| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 106| D

20/1

Won first time out as he has in all three years of racing. Struggled in a Group Three next before finishing 10th of 28 behind Afaak in the Royal Hunt Cup. Others appeal as better handicapped.

Form: 022-150

(6)

Pivoine^v²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Rob Hornby| T: A M Balding| OR: 104| CD

14/1

C&D winner last season but mostly struggled since and return to handicapping latest saw him a remote 18th of 19 at Royal Ascot. Plenty of safer bets in a race such as this.

Form: 10-6640

(16)

Scarlet Dragon^h⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: T P Queally| T: A King| OR: 104| CD

16/1

Four-times Group placed performer won over hurdles this winter which was his first score since 2016. Hard to win with on the flat and was 10th in this in 2017 off a 5lb higher mark.

Form: 03423-2

(13)

Aquarium⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 103| CD

20/1

Six-time winner who dances every dance in big handicaps. Not often looked well treated this season although did bag a soft ground Chester handicap off a mark just 1lb higher. Surprise if he's well enough handicapped here.

Form: 281070

(21)

Waarif¹⁴^{(ex 5)}

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 96| BF| D

40/1

Seven-time scorer won twice at Windsor this season over 1m2f and last time out 1m. Record off this sort of handicap mark suggests it beyond him but in current form he can't be discounted.

Form: 691521

(1)

What's The Story²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: P Hanagan| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 100| C

12/1

Sixth in this last year and won here over 1m two starts back before finishing 12th behind Afaak in the Royal Hunt Cup latest. Draw limits jockey options and overall looks to have it to do off mark 4lb higher than in 2018 edition.

Form: 600-310

(17)

Original Choice^p¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: B A Curtis| T: N P Littmoden| OR: 100

66/1

Five-time winner for William Haggas but was 9¾L behind Setting Sail at Newmarket on stable debut latest and with just a 2lb weight pull reversal looks very unlikely.

Form: 31-0856

(23)

Setting Sail¹⁵^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: J P Spencer| T: C Appleby| OR: 95| D

9/2

Lightly raced but took record to 3-6 when winning at Newmarket latest after finishing fourth to Mountain Angel the time before. Same terms with that rival here so reversal will ask for more improvement but that remains possible.

Form: 21/1441

(14)

Restorer⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: Ian Williams| OR: 98| D

50/1

1lb lower now than last winning mark although that a comparably weak Leicester contest in 2018. Not really found his feet this season and is hard to fancy.

Form: 742-400

(12)

Stylehunter^b²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 98| BF| D

6/1

Seems to relish big field handicaps as shown with 2¼L fourth to Afaak in the Royal Hunt Cup latest. Given he's now 6lb better off and better drawn he can turn the tables here and looks to have very sound claims overall.

Form: 1610-54

(2)

Exec Chef⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: P Cosgrave| T: J R Boyle| OR: 98| BF| D

14/1

Won first three starts for this yard last year and although winless since he has basically been a model of consistency. Not entirely convinced he's well handicapped enough but one of the more likely outsiders.

Form: 204234

(4)

My Lord And Master²²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Cieren Fallon⁽⁵⁾| T: W J Haggas| OR: 98

7/1

Nottingham winner over smart Young Rascal last term before two Listed seconds. Lost his way afterwards however but been gelded since and given this is his first run of 2019 for top trainer one wonders whether he's been laid out for this.

Form: 268206-

(7)

Fayez⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Cam Hardie| T: D O'Meara| OR: 97| D

33/1

Eight-time winner including three times this year already. Kept very busy so looks a little too exposed for a race of this nature.

Form: 931164

(22)

Francis Xavier⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Rossa Ryan| T: K Frost| OR: 97| CD

16/1

Won four on the spin over 9 month spell including C&D success last year. No match for classy Elarqam first time out in a Listed race but earlier progress not forgotten and appeals as an interesting sort at a fancy ante-post price.

Form: 21/111-7

(10)

Jazeel⁸^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Sean Davis⁽³⁾| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 92| D

11/1

Ended last season by winning 1m1f Silver Cambridgeshire and after two good seconds this term including to Mountain Angel he was back to winning ways at Sandown latest. Rarely runs a bad race and relishes big fields; respected.

Form: 641-221

(8)

Aasheq⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 96| BF| D

16/1

Pontefract winner first time out has been third to re-opposing Mountain Angel and Aquarium in two subsequent starts. Consistent enough but others probably better treated and/or less exposed.

Form: 350-133

(15)

Big Kitten¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Liam Jones| T: W J Haggas| OR: 95| D

33/1

Dual AW scorer and twice second on the surface since although return to turf latest saw him disappoint. Trainer's My Lord And Master more fancied and this one also declared here on Friday.

Form: 71-0225

(5)

Another Touch³²²

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 95

50/1

Eighth and seventh in the last two renewals of this but having been off since last August and going 0-10 in 2018 he's not easy to fancy.

Form: 363750-

(18)

Leroy Leroy¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Rachel Richardson| T: R Hannon| OR: 98

33/1

Lightly raced sort ran well two starts back before well beaten by Setting Sail at Newmarket last time out. Only one three-year-old won this since 2002. First Reserve.

Form: 16-4525

Non-Runners

(9)

Buzz²⁸

Weight: 9-2| Age: 5

T: H Morrison J: Non Runner

(19)

Hortzadar¹

Weight: 8-13| Age: 4

T: D O'Meara J: Angus Villiers

Forecasts

Setting Sail (9/2), Stylehunter (6/1), Mountain Angel (13/2), My Lord And Master (7/1), Jazeel (11/1), What's The Story (12/1), Buzz (12/1), Pivoine (14/1), Afaak (14/1), Exec Chef (14/1), Aasheq (16/1), Francis Xavier (16/1), Scarlet Dragon (16/1), Aquarium (20/1), Mordin (20/1), Hortzadar (25/1), Big Kitten (33/1), Fayez (33/1), Leroy Leroy (33/1), Waarif (40/1), Another Touch (50/1), Restorer (50/1), Original Choice (66/1)

As wide open as you would expect for one of the most storied and valuable handicaps in the racing calendar. Yorkshire-born William Haggas loves little more than plundering big prizes back in his birth county and his highly unexposed MY LORD AND MASTER's form early last season leaps off the page so presuming him to have been laid out for this with that in mind he gets the vote. Ante-post favourite Mountain Angel has the beating of several of these on form and Roger Varian is without peers this season in such races. Stylehunter is also high up on the shortlist with him expected to reverse with the awfully drawn Afaak.