13:55 York

Friday 23 August 2019

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

Sky Bet Handicap

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 2m 25.40s

(7)

Gibbs Hill⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 105| D

16/1

Bolted up by 7L in a Kempton handicap on final start of 2017 but hard to recommend here having pulled up on his reappearance from two years off the track at Newcastle last time out; back down in trip.

Form: 21131/P

(19)

Epaulement⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 102

14/1

Justified favouritism when gaining a third career win on his seasonal return at Ripon. Has run well in defeat in two of his three starts since and his third at Haydock last time rates as something close to a career best; wide draw not ideal.

Form: 12-1293

(17)

Scarlet Dragon^h²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Tom Marquand| T: A King| OR: 101| C| D

14/1

Hasn't won on the Flat since 2016 but showed he might have one in him from this sort of handicap mark when fourth in a competitive heat at Glorious Goodwood last time out. Interesting if the step up in trips yields some improvement.

Form: 423-204

(13)

Corelli^t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 100| D

6/1

Has three wins from eight starts and only narrowly denied at Newmarket last time out by a progressive sort. Up 3lb for that but less exposed than plenty in here and likely to have more to give.

Form: 131-272

(5)

Indianapolis^p¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: P Mulrennan| T: J G Given| OR: 98| D

16/1

Got his head back in front in first-time cheekpieces at Ascot last time and a 3lb rise for that looks fair. Ran okay here earlier in the season and may yet have more to give.

Form: 7-26841

(14)

Jazeel²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: J P Spencer| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 97

8/1

Loves fast ground and returned to form with an excellent second at Goodwood last time out. Gives the impression this step up in trip should suit (only tried once before) but will need to improve a little to defy this mark.

Form: 1-22192

(10)

Anythingtoday^p²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 97| CD

25/1

Disappointed in his hat-trick bid at Ascot last time out but impressive when winning over C&D the time before. This sort of mark demands another career best though and others make more appeal.

Form: 042116

(12)

Eynhallow¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 96

10/1

Acquitted himself well in a couple of Meydan handicaps at the start of 2018 and looked too fresh when returning at Newmarket, finishing fourth of seven. Could take a step forward from that and on a workable mark if he can get back to his best.

Form: 32/427-4

(8)

Hermoso Mundo²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: D Allan| T: H Morrison| OR: 95

25/1

Multiple Group 3 winner in South Africa for Mike De Kock but not at his best towards the end of his time there. Well beaten in his first couple of starts for this yard but a slightly better effort at Goodwood last time; needs to build on that.

Form: 2-09406

(1)

Restorer¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: Jim Crowley| T: Ian Williams| OR: 94| D

28/1

Out of form this season prior to a respectable fifth in behind Indianapolis at Ascot last time out. Dropped another 1lb for that and well handicapped on old form; won't mind any rain that arrives.

Form: 2-40005

(2)

Caradoc¹¹^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Oisin Murphy| T: E Walker| OR: 89

4/1

Made it three wins from seven starts at Windsor last time out, sticking to his task well, despite racing keenly in the early stages. Form of that race has been boosted since and well-treated under a 5lb penalty here.

Form: 12-5141

(6)

Mandarin¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: P J McDonald| T: Ian Williams| OR: 93| BF| D

7/1

Has really found his form for this yard and only narrowly denied in his hat-trick bid behind Indianapolis last time out at Ascot (beaten ½L). Up another 1lb but trainer adept at improving these sorts and respected again.

Form: 522113

(18)

Genetics¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: G Lee| T: A M Balding| OR: 93| D

25/1

Won three races last year, including a wide margin front-running success at the Shergar Cup meeting at Ascot. Went close to pulling off a similar trick before getting reeled in by Indianapolis and only up 1lb for that effort. Wide draw not ideal.

Form: 05-5942

(4)

Persian Moon²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: S De Sousa| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 99| C

9/1

Won three times as a juvenile but yet to win this campaign and while the handicapper has dropped him 1lb for his latest effort, he's likely in need of more relief from the assessor before he gets his head back in front.

Form: 344726

(9)

Tamreer^h⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: B A Curtis| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 89| BF

33/1

Gained a first win since debut at Newcastle earlier in the campaign and has run well in two starts since. Revised handicap mark possibly on the stiff side though.

Form: 952132

(20)

Western Duke²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: P Mathers| T: Ian Williams| OR: 87| D

33/1

Got his head back in front for the first time in nearly two years when staying on well at Ascot last time. 4lb rise for that perhaps a bit harsh but has won off this mark and can't be discounted, particularly if there's a bit of rain.

Form: 72-5341

Non-Runners

(3)

Aquarium¹⁴

Weight: 9-5| Age: 4

T: C & M Johnston J: J Fanning

(15)

Desert Wind⁴²

Weight: 9-3| Age: 4

T: E F Vaughan J: Non Runner

(16)

Tamleek²⁰

Weight: 8-9| Age: 5

T: D O'Meara J: R P Downey

(11)

Speed Company¹⁶

Weight: 8-8| Age: 6

T: Ian Williams J: P Hanagan

Forecasts

Caradoc (4/1), Corelli (6/1), Mandarin (7/1), Jazeel (8/1), Persian Moon (9/1), Eynhallow (10/1), Epaulement (14/1), Scarlet Dragon (14/1), Gibbs Hill (16/1), Indianapolis (16/1), Desert Wind (16/1), Aquarium (20/1), Speed Company (20/1), Hermoso Mundo (25/1), Genetics (25/1), Anythingtoday (25/1), Restorer (28/1), Tamreer (33/1), Western Duke (33/1), Tamleek (33/1)

CARADOC has a good strike-rate of three wins from seven starts and he might be able to enhance here now stepped up to this trip for the first time. He was a comfortable winner when last seen at Windsor and he's due to go up more than his 5lb penalty when the handicapper has his say. Corelli was only narrowly denied last time and likely has more to come while Speed Company arrives in good form and goes well at this venue.