14:25 York

Saturday 24 August 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:4016:1016:4517:20

Sky Bet Melrose Handicap

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 2m 56.08s

(3)

Rochester House⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 96

22/1

Winner of small-field 2m handicaps at Beverley and Catterick, and ran up to his best when 2¾L third of 8 to Laafy over 1¾m at Nottingham last time. Bit more exposed than some of these.

Form: 432113

(8)

Eminence²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 96

6/1

Won on handicap bow at Leopardstown in April and has run well in defeat in four starts since, despite a propensity to start slowly. Good third to Sir Ron Priestly at Goodwood last time, appears to be still improving, and ought to relish this trip.

Form: 6-13323

(5)

First In Line²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 96

3/1

Thoroughly unexposed, having won 1¼m novices at Lingfield and Doncaster on last two starts. Sure to improve further, and useful half-sister Dawn Horizons stayed 1½m well, so the longer trip should see him flourish.

Form: 211

(2)

King's Vow^p1,t²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: D O'Brien| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 96

20/1

Made turf breakthrough when stepped up to 1½m in a 21-runner handicap at Leopardstown in May, and runner-up in Ulster Derby following month. Poor run at Galway is excusable, he's 17lb above his winning mark. Cheekpieces replace blinkers now.

Form: 1-43120

(10)

Almania²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: D Tudhope| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 95

8/1

Outmatched in Dante Stakes here on return, but has run well in defeat on all three handicap starts. Had no respite from the handicapper for those losses, however, and likely to find a couple too good, for all the longer trip should be in his favour.

Form: 41-8545

(6)

Hamish⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: James Doyle| T: W J Haggas| OR: 92| BF

7/1

Homebred from an excellent staying family. Won by 7L in a 1¼m Windsor novice in June, and improved further when third of 11 to Away He Goes in similar event at Newbury last month. Will progress again at this trip, and much respected on handicap bow.

Form: 213

(13)

Universal Order²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: J P Spencer| T: D M Simcock| OR: 88

16/1

Both wins have come at Bath, and did well to come from a poor position when scoring over 1¼m there last time. Bred for further, and still unexposed, but needs to settle a bit better to fulfil undoubted potential.

Form: 12-131

(4)

Skymax^b³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R M Beckett| OR: 88

16/1

Unplaced on his first three handicap starts this season, but much improved when fitted with blinkers and making all to win off 7lb lower at Newbury last time. Won't find it easy to poach an uncontested lead here.

Form: 21-5541

(9)

Kiefer²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 88| BF

7/1

Showed promise in maidens and won on handicap debut at Newbury in July. Has run well on both starts since, looking ready for 1¾m when a keeping-on third (ahead of Lariat) at Ascot last month. Will keep progressing.

Form: 7-62123

(7)

Just Hubert³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: P J McDonald| T: W R Muir| OR: 86| D

20/1

Didn't need to improve to win a 1½m handicap at Ripon last month, but was suited by the stiffer test when following up over 1¾m at Sandown. Up in class here however, and looks vulnerable.

Form: 9-64311

(1)

Land Of Oz⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 82| D

5/1

Beaten on return, but has won all four starts in staying handicaps since, most recently at Salisbury when having more in hand than the bare margin. Stays 2m1½f, but not short of tactical speed, so one to bear in mind again.

Form: 8-41111

(11)

Starczewski¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: Hollie Doyle| T: D M Simcock| OR: 80| D

14/1

Followed three consecutive runner up efforts with a first win in a maiden handicap at Yarmouth (1m3½f), and found improvement to follow up at Chelmsford last time. Going the right way, but this looks much tougher.

Form: 522211

Non-Runners

(12)

Lariat²⁸

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: A M Balding J: Rob Hornby

Forecasts

First In Line (3/1), Land Of Oz (5/1), Eminence (6/1), Hamish (7/1), Kiefer (7/1), Almania (8/1), Starczewski (14/1), Skymax (16/1), Universal Order (16/1), Just Hubert (20/1), King's Vow (20/1), Lariat (20/1), Rochester House (22/1)

FIRST IN LINE lacks handicap experience, but his form at 1¼m is very strong, and he shapes, in line with his breeding, like he will be better still granted a proper test of stamina. Kiefer is another who will relish this trip having stayed on well in a competitive event at Ascot last time, while Eminence is progressing well, and ran a cracker when third at Goodwood over 1½m last time.