18:30 York

Friday 26 July 2019

All18:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Handicap

Off time: 18:33 | Winning time: 1m 11.43s

(16)

Equiano Springs²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: J P Sullivan| T: T P Tate| OR: 81| BF| D

7/1

Has brought his AW improvement back to turf, exploiting a lenient mark when beating Prestbury Park by 2L at Doncaster (6f) in May. Shaped well after a break when fourth at Haydock last time, and remains one to be positive about.

Form: 221214

(14)

Nick Vedder^b²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Cam Hardie| T: M Wigham| OR: 80| D

20/1

Most effective on the AW at Newcastle, and while he has comparable form on turf, he comes here having run poorly at Haydock earlier in the month, and others make more appeal.

Form: 22-1640

(13)

Cool Spirit⁷⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Barry McHugh| T: R A Fahey| OR: 80| D

8/1

Beaten on his return for James Given, but revitalised by switch to current yard, and made all to beat a subsequent winner at Hamilton last time. Has competition for the lead here, but should still give a good account.

Form: 1/210-61

(4)

Daffy Jane¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Faye McManoman⁽⁵⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 79| D

14/1

Given a chance by the assessor and back to form on last few starts, and not beaten far at Chester last time despite blowing the start. Place claims if continuing in similar vein, but must break on terms.

Form: 900235

(10)

Tricky Dicky²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: B A Curtis| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 79| BF| D

4/1

In fine form on good or softer turf for his new yard, winning at Thirsk and Pontefract (twice). May not want the ground to get any quicker, but needs consideration in his current mood.

Form: 231212

(19)

Double Up^t,v²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: S De Sousa| T: Ian Williams| OR: 79| D

16/1

Been out of sorts for a while, although has fallen to a tempting mark as a result, and shaped better than the result when seventh of 12 to Gabrial The Devil at Haydock last time. Top jockey booked now, and market useful.

Form: 000097

(3)

Orion's Bow^p⁷^{(ex 4)}

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 74| D

14/1

Not the force of old, and although he snapped a long losing run when scraping home in a 4-runner contest at Hamilton a week ago, he is easy enough to oppose under a penalty. Has a poor record here.

Form: 20-4001

(6)

John Kirkup^p¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR: 77| D

10/1

Won a soft-ground handicap at Haydock in May, and ran well over a trip which stretches him last time, so has claims, but well held here in between, and now winless in five attempts here.

Form: 594173

(7)

Iconic Knight¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: P Hanagan| T: E Walker| OR: 77

10/1

Standout effort this season came when third on softish ground at Goodwood, but he's been unable to replicate that form on quicker ground, and opposable unless rain gets into the ground.

Form: 0-70367

(2)

Rasheeq^p³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Seamus Cronin⁽⁵⁾| T: M Moubarak| OR: 76| D

11/1

Both wins this year have come under this experienced apprentice, and he appeared to show marked improvement when winning decisively at Newbury last time. Every chance if that form is taken at face value, despite an 8lb rise.

Form: 541941

(9)

Yes You¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Harrison Shaw⁽⁵⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 75| D

25/1

Hit a purple patch last summer, winning three times, but she has struggled to make a similar impact since, and this year's efforts not enough to see her competitive despite falling 4lb below her last winning mark.

Form: 087-654

(8)

Spring Romance²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Joey Haynes| T: D K Ivory| OR: 75| D

12/1

Progressive when winning four from seven starts last year, and regained the winning thread when edging out a subsequent winner at Nottingham last time. Up just 3lb for that, which looks very reasonable. Could be underestimated.

Form: 42-4901

(5)

Our Little Pony⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: D Tudhope| T: L A Mullaney| OR: 74

15/2

Best efforts have come on soft ground, winning at Thirsk in September, and going very close over C&D on her latest start. Could have more to give, but needs rain to materialise.

Form: 417-853

(12)

Russian Realm³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 8-11| J: K Stott| T: P T Midgley| OR: 70| D

33/1

Fared okay when fifth in a higher grade at Thirsk last time. That was a vastly improved showing upon his two prior efforts where he failed to beat a single rival home. Inconsistent but does have a shout.

Form: 24-4085

(18)

Gullane One^t¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Jason Hart| T: T D Easterby| OR: 68| D

33/1

Got the better of Scuzeme at Thirsk last month, and has claims on that effort, but he has flopped in three subsequent starts, with the blinkers he wore at Doncaster last time now left off.

Form: 1-01878

(11)

Qaaraat⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Kieran Schofield⁽⁵⁾| T: A Brittain| OR: 67| D

33/1

Finished second at Beverley in May over 5f, but he has lost his way since, and makes limited appeal in this line-up.

Form: 258667

Non-Runners

(15)

Lucky Lucky Man²⁷

Weight: 9-5| Age: 4

T: R A Fahey J: Sean Davis

(1)

Upstaging¹⁴

Weight: 9-4| Age: 7

T: N Wilson J: Non Runner

(17)

Followthesteps⁵⁰

Weight: 9-3| Age: 4

T: I Furtado J: T E Whelan

Forecasts

Tricky Dicky (4/1), Equiano Springs (7/1), Our Little Pony (15/2), Cool Spirit (8/1), Iconic Knight (10/1), John Kirkup (10/1), Rasheeq (11/1), Spring Romance (12/1), Daffy Jane (14/1), Orion's Bow (14/1), Double Up (16/1), Lucky Lucky Man (16/1), Nick Vedder (20/1), Followthesteps (20/1), Yes You (25/1), Russian Realm (33/1), Gullane One (33/1), Qaaraat (33/1), Upstaging (33/1)

DOUBLE UP is risky, but he's fallen a long way in the weights, and showed his first form in a while last time, when better than the bare result. With de Sousa now booked, he is worth chancing at what could be rewarding odds. Cool Spirit and Equiano Springs are a couple of in-form rivals to consider in what looks a wide-open handicap.