15:15 York

Saturday 13 July 2019

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

John Smith's Racing Handicap

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 1m 38.16s

(2)

Escobar^t⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: J P Spencer| T: D O'Meara| OR: 99| D

11/4

Second in last year's £155k Balmoral Handicap at Ascot and after a slow start to 2019 he bounced back with an excellent second at Sandown last time out. 3lb lower than Balmoral second and after that solid run latest he has strong claims.

Form: 02-0902

(1)

Rise Hall^b¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Rob Hornby| T: M Meade| OR: 94| BF| D

13/8

Gained first handicap success in 1m½f Nottingham contest first time out before solid second behind potentially very well handicapped sort at Newmarket over 1m2f latest. Drop in trip shouldn't inconvenience and sure this mark is within range.

Form: 8136-12

(7)

Crownthorpe¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Sean Davis⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 94| D

7/1

Enjoying a productive season scoring for the second time at Newcastle penultimately before unseating at the start at the same venue last time. Hard to think him well handicapped off a career high mark but still not ruled out.

Form: 54151U

(3)

Masham Star²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 93| D

5/1

Only 1lb higher than last handicap success and has been on the most part pretty consistent this year. Second last time saw him beaten 5L and always vulnerable to less exposed sorts.

Form: 324382

(6)

Baraweez⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-5| J: B A Curtis| T: B Ellison| OR: 90| D

12/1

Seems to save his best form for 7½f round Chester these days where he scored twice last season and has finished third and sixth in his two most recent starts. Doesn't appeal as much here and others are preferred.

Form: 780-036

(4)

Dark Jedi²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: David Egan| T: C Hills| OR: 92

13/2

Very highly tried after Ffos Las debut win at two and after struggling twice at Listed level this season he was down the field in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot latest. This may be more realistic at last however so is somewhat a dark horse.

Form: 226-750

Non-Runners

(5)

Just Hiss²¹

Weight: 9-4| Age: 6

T: T D Easterby J: Rachel Richardson

Forecasts

Rise Hall (13/8), Escobar (11/4), Masham Star (5/1), Dark Jedi (13/2), Crownthorpe (7/1), Baraweez (12/1), Just Hiss (12/1)

Lightly raced four-year-old RISE HALL remains a handicapper to keep on the right side of after winning at Nottingham before finished second to a seriously unexposed sort last time out. Escobar has gone well in better handicaps than this in the past and rates a big danger. Dark Jedi likely still has his best days ahead and can't be ruled out here either.