15:00 York

Thursday 22 August 2019

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

Clipper Logistics Handicap

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 1m 36.14s

(2)

Silver Line³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Cieren Fallon⁽⁵⁾| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 107| D

11/1

Highly tried after winning on 2-y-o debut, and ran well off stiff marks in handicaps last season on the whole. Took advantage of an easier task when winning by 6L at Nottingham on return, but right back up in the weights for that in a tougher race.

Form: 63095-1

(20)

Vale Of Kent²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: L Dettori| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 104| D

10/1

Has five handicaps wins at 7f-1m, and looked at least as good as ever when second to Beat Le Bon in the Golden Mile at Goodwood last time. Not well drawn here, and up 3lb to a career-high mark, but not ignored.

Form: 4-78102

(14)

What's The Story^p²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: J Fanning| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 103| CD

12/1

Won off a 7lb lower mark over C&D in May, and best effort since when third in John Smith's Cup here last month. Return to this venue should suit after disappointing at Goodwood, where he had excuses.

Form: 0-31030

(15)

So Beloved²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 9-5| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 102| C| D

33/1

Has loads of ability, and rarely runs a bad race, but his losing run stretches back well over three years, and that alone makes him opposable, with the handicapper not showing a great deal of mercy.

Form: 342970

(8)

Kynren⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: R Winston| T: T D Barron| OR: 101| BF| D

7/2

May not have won since 2017 but has run some big races in defeat so far this year, arguably a career best when fifth of 28 in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot when drawn away from the pace. Left on same mark, and no reason why he won't go well again.

Form: 265-225

(1)

Qaysar¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: James Doyle| T: R Hannon| OR: 100| D

15/2

Had been frustrating, but has clicked the last twice, bolting up at Newbury and following up off 5lb higher at Newmarket last time. Raise the same amount again, but he is capable of a big effort from his revised mark, and inside draw a plus.

Form: 034211

(17)

Baltic Baron^v²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 99| D

12/1

Just a maiden to his name at Chantilly, but has been catching the eye in handicaps, and was noted going on well at the finish when fifth in the Golden Mile at Goodwood last time when wearing a visor. Claims here, although is higher in the weights.

Form: 4-22925

(13)

Arbalet^t²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: P Cosgrave| T: H Palmer| OR: 99

25/1

Midfield in a strong event at Ascot last month and shaped well enough in a quartet of Listed races previously. Yet to win outside novice company, but has been given a chance by the handicapper, so not ruled out.

Form: 3-56440

(4)

Petrus^p⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: M Dwyer| T: B J Meehan| OR: 99| D

14/1

Very consistent sort, the one blot on his copybook this year coming in soft ground at Royal Ascot. Back to form when third in competitive 1m Sandown handicap won by Mojito last time, and respected from a mark just 2lb higher than for his last win.

Form: 9-11403

(12)

Firmament^p²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: A Kirby| T: D O'Meara| OR: 99| CD

12/1

Ended a lengthy losing run over 7f here on penultimate start, but catapulted back up the handicap as a result, and just a respectable sixth behind Rising Sand at Ascot last time. Will give his running, but looks vulnerable for win purposes.

Form: 4-02016

(18)

History Writer^t²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Jason Watson| T: D Menuisier| OR: 97| D

25/1

Back to his best when winning in good style at Sandown in June, but has not found things going his way since, and this hold-up performer needs them to go too fast in front to bring his finishing kick into play.

Form: 730170

(16)

Waarif¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: R P Downey| T: D O'Meara| OR: 96| D

50/1

Has won twice at Windsor this summer, but his form has dropped off worryingly in recent starts, and hard to fancy for all he did far too much in front in Shergar Cup Mile at Ascot (under a visiting claimer) last time.

Form: 521090

(7)

Thrave³³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Harry Bentley| T: H Candy| OR: 96

8/1

Bettered seasonal reappearance when runner-up in a competitive 1m handicap at Newbury and bounced back from a lesser effort at Sandown when 1¼L second of 9 to Indeed at Newmarket last time. A 4lb rise for that defeat demands another career best now.

Form: 45-4292

(6)

Via Serendipity^t¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Oisin Murphy| T: S C Williams| OR: 94| D

14/1

Is lower in the weights for his last two handicap wins, the latest by 5L at Chelmsford in June. Excuses of late, chasing an overly strong pace when a respectable sixth in the Shergar Cup Mile at Ascot last time. Could well bounce back.

Form: 081666

(5)

Club Wexford¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 8-11| J: B A Curtis| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 94| D

33/1

Revitalised for new yard, winning three times this season, but just a respectable fourth at Haydock last time, and is 4lb higher here, so clear that he has plenty on his plate.

Form: 115124

(9)

Crownthorpe^p²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Sean Davis⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 91| D

66/1

Standout recent effort when winning a 1m handicap at Newcastle in June, but his turf efforts don't read so well and he's been readily beaten over C&D on his last two starts.

Form: 151U36

(11)

Wafy¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: C Hills| OR: 90

10/1

Excuses in the Spring Cup on soft ground on his return, and has run well to be runner-up the last twice, albeit no match for Qaysar at Newbury last time. Now 10lb better off with that rival, though, and capable of causing a minor surprise.

Form: 634-022

(3)

Blackheath²²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: P Hanagan| T: E Walker| OR: 89

12/1

Not seen to best effect at Goodwood last time, but had won a competitive Leicester handicap prior to that, and isn't badly handicapped on that effort. Has a good draw, and fast ground will suit, so needs consideration.

Form: 2-62717

Non-Runners

(19)

Seniority²⁰

Weight: 9-4| Age: 5

T: W J Haggas J: Non Runner

(10)

Bless Him²³

Weight: 8-9| Age: 5

T: D M Simcock J: J P Spencer

Forecasts

Kynren (7/2), Qaysar (15/2), Thrave (8/1), Vale Of Kent (10/1), Wafy (10/1), Seniority (10/1), Silver Line (11/1), What's The Story (12/1), Firmament (12/1), Blackheath (12/1), Baltic Baron (12/1), Bless Him (12/1), Petrus (14/1), Via Serendipity (14/1), Arbalet (25/1), History Writer (25/1), So Beloved (33/1), Club Wexford (33/1), Waarif (50/1), Crownthorpe (66/1)

A low draw is a definite advantage over this trip, and with that in mind, VIA SERENDIPITY, who likes to go forward could spring a shock, especially as he's 1lb lower in the weights than when winning by a wide margin over this trip as recently as June. Qaysar has suddenly showed all he's promised to with wins at Newbury and Newmarket, and his inside stall helps offset another 5lb rise. Others to consider in a wide-open race are Wafy, who was second to Qaysar at Newbury and is now 10lb better off, and Blackheath, who didn't get the run of things at Goodwood, and had won well prior to that.