16:15 York

Wednesday 21 August 2019

All13:5514:2515:0015:3516:1516:50

Sky Bet Handicap

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 3m 33.22s

(6)

Dubawi Fifty^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: L Dettori| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 102| D

6/1

Put in a very rare below par effort at Goodwood last time out but that may have been down to the "bounce" factor on first start since a return from a 375-day absence. Previous effort in the Plate at Newcastle should see him thereabouts.

Form: 1342-20

(9)

Charles Kingsley¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 100

8/1

Made it four wins from 12 starts when justifying favouritism at Newmarket last month. Not disgraced at Goodwood subsequently and the step up in trip could suit; unexposed and seemingly goes on any ground.

Form: 150415

(2)

Blakeney Point^b,t¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Jason Watson| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 99| D

14/1

Listed winner at Chester towards the end of last year. Well below form in three starts this campaign though and while the handicapper has been quick to relent, others make more appeal; steps back up in trip.

Form: 515-804

(10)

Bartholomeu Dias¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: K Shoemark| T: C Hills| OR: 97

33/1

Yet to win in nine turf starts and all three wins have come on Tapeta. Well beaten at Goodwood last time out and any deterioration in conditions unlikely to be in his favour.

Form: 31-2140

(13)

Rare Groove³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: P J McDonald| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 96

12/1

Stayed on strongly to get the better of Charles Kingsley at Hamilton earlier in the season. Arrives better off at the weights with that rival and has run well in defeat on his last two starts. Could yet have more to give at this trip.

Form: 9-31025

(8)

Eddystone Rock¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: James Doyle| T: J R Best| OR: 95| C| D

8/1

Got his head back in front at Ascot last time out, winning with a fair amount in hand and unexposed at this sort of trip. 4lb rise for the win could prove to be lenient.

Form: 313571

(4)

Aircraft Carrier^v¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Jim Crowley| T: J Ryan| OR: 95

40/1

Rattled off a hat-trick over the winter on AW but progress has seemingly been halted since. Plenty on to reverse form with Eddystone Rock from last time out.

Form: 146805

(14)

Mancini²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: R Kingscote| T: J G Portman| OR: 94| CD

12/1

Goes well at this venue and got his head back in front for the first time this season with a C&D success last month. Tends to struggle in deeper staying contests, as seen at Goodwood last time but he's got each-way claims given his course record.

Form: 0-42717

(5)

Clever Cookie³³³

Age: 11| Weight: 9-2| J: R Winston| T: P D Niven| OR: 94| C| D

66/1

Four-time course winner. A very talented performer in his pomp, particularly when he got testing conditions. However, hasn't won since a course success in the 2016 Yorkshire Cup and hasn't showed any signs of a revival for some time now.

Form: 667957-

(3)

Carnwennan³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: S Donohoe| T: C Fellowes| OR: 94| BF| CD

7/1

Rattled off a hat-trick and while he finished tailed off at Newbury last time out in a four-timer bid, that run was clearly too bad to be true. Could still have more to give from this mark and his hat-trick kicked off with a C&D success.

Form: 2-21110

(1)

Sleeping Lion²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: J P Spencer| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 92

15/2

Both wins came back-to-back at the start of last season but has been running well in defeat so far this campaign. Gave the impression he could have more to give at this sort of trip when runner-up at Ascot last time and only up 2lb for that.

Form: 34-2302

(15)

Infrastructure²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Rob Hornby| T: M Meade| OR: 92

10/1

Gained a second career win at Chester last month but proved no match for Charles Kingsley last time out at Newmarket. Interesting runner if he can improve for the step up in trip though (not guaranteed on pedigree).

Form: 166-413

(7)

Makawee²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 92| BF| C

9/1

Gained a course win (1m4f) before following up at Wetherby earlier in the season. Only narrowly denied over C&D in her latest two starts. Still unexposed at this trip and capable of going well here.

Form: 115622

(12)

Melting Dew^p¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: R L Moore| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 91

16/1

Won back-to-back races last year but struggling for form in four starts this campaign. Starting to become well handicapped but has questions to answer on his first start at this trip.

Form: 20-9999

(16)

Blue Laureate¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: P Hanagan| T: Ian Williams| OR: 88

20/1

Just one win from 17 starts and beaten a long way behind a few of these last time out at Ascot. Looks in need of relief from the handicapper.

Form: 7-25738

(11)

My Reward¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: Connor Beasley| T: T D Easterby| OR: 88| D

50/1

Had completely lost his form prior to finishing runner-up at Ripon last month but failed to build on that at Pontefract subsequently, a track he's previously won at. Stays this far but best form is over shorter trips; others preferred.

Form: 083027

(17)

Claire Underwood¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: P Mathers| T: R A Fahey| OR: 86

25/1

Has given the impression she could be well handicapped at times but didn't improve for a step up in trip last time out and she has questions to answer over further 2f here.

Form: 136523

Forecasts

Dubawi Fifty (6/1), Carnwennan (7/1), Sleeping Lion (15/2), Eddystone Rock (8/1), Charles Kingsley (8/1), Makawee (9/1), Infrastructure (10/1), Rare Groove (12/1), Mancini (12/1), Blakeney Point (14/1), Melting Dew (16/1), Blue Laureate (20/1), Claire Underwood (25/1), Bartholomeu Dias (33/1), Aircraft Carrier (40/1), My Reward (50/1), Clever Cookie (66/1)

A typically competitive renewal of this race but it's probably worth forgiving DUBAWI FIFTY a very rare poor performance last time out. The six-year-old has been competitive in some of the strongest staying handicaps on these shores in recent years including the Ascot Stakes, Northumberland Plate and the Chester Cup so he ought to be able to make his presence felt against these rivals. Mancini goes well around here and is an each-way contender while Charles Kingsley looks unexposed and rates as another interesting contender.