16:45 York

Saturday 24 August 2019

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

Sky Bet Handicap

Off time: 16:47 | Winning time: 2m 6.06s

(6)

Rise Hall^b²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Rob Hornby| T: M Meade| OR: 99| D

9/2

Progressing well since winning at Nottingham on return, and back to winning ways off 3lb lower at Newmarket (1¼m) last time. Effective here, and looks on a very fair mark still.

Form: 36-1221

(12)

Beringer^p²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: A King| OR: 99| D

9/1

Lincoln third who has run well since winning at Newmarket in April, and better than ever when second to Jazeel at Sandown last month. Excuses behind Fayez last time, and one to view positively

Form: 315025

(15)

Johnny Drama²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Jason Watson| T: A M Balding| OR: 97| D

9/1

Delivered on juvenile promise when winning a maiden at Gowran in April and bolted up on handicap debut at Roscommon next time. Back to form when sixth to Fayez at Goodwood last time on debut for new yard, and gives impression he can build on that.

Form: 72-1106

(2)

Ventura Knight^b1¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: R L Moore| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 94

20/1

Shaped well when fourth to Fayez at Goodwood (1¼m) last month, but he's hard to catch right, and has been below form on both starts since. Blinkers reached for now.

Form: 534405

(4)

Victory Command⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 100| D

16/1

Now 9lb higher than for last turf win at Hamilton (1m½f) in July, but did score under forcing tactics at Chelmsford last time. This is tougher, though, and he's opposable on balance.

Form: 614541

(1)

Forest Of Dean²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 100| D

6/4

Won at Doncaster in April, and fine fourth in London Gold Cup at Newbury next time. Back to winning ways after a break at Goodwood last time, and is the type to progress further, so is taken to defy a 7lb rise.

Form: 2-12141

(8)

Dragon Mall^t¹⁹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: S Donohoe| T: R Menzies| OR: 92| D

50/1

Dropped in the weights before winning for current yard at Wolverhampton in February. Last turf run was when well beaten in John Smith's Cup here in 2017, and has something to prove after an absence.

Form: 794-421

(13)

Star Archer³²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Nathan Evans| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 92

50/1

Dual AW winner for Hugo Palmer last year, but ended 2018 on a low note, and has plenty to prove starting out for a new yard on the back of a lengthy absence.

Form: 113907-

(14)

Furzig²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 88| D

14/1

Good second over C&D on penultimate start, and won at Newcastle last time, but he's been raised 10lb for those efforts and is facing stiffer competition here. Not dismissed, but must progress again to maintain his good run.

Form: 152721

(16)

Society Red²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Megan Nicholls⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 88| CD

20/1

Still 2lb higher than his last winning mark despite a fruitless campaign, and needs a bit more help from the assessor before he will make much appeal.

Form: 252805

(17)

Cockalorum^b1¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: B A Curtis| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 87| BF| D

25/1

Won at Ripon in July, and creditable third with cheekpieces refitted there last time. Up in class now in a change of headgear, and while that might work, others are more convincing.

Form: 745123

(5)

Poet's Dawn⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 84| C

50/1

Given a chance by the handicapper before winning over 1m1f here on his penultimate start, but no obvious excuse when only sixth here next time, and likely to struggle in this class.

Form: 9-53516

(3)

Tudor City^t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 8-5| J: J F Egan| T: A J Martin| OR: 81| BF| D

6/1

Beaten favourite off this mark on his last Flat outing, but back to his very best when landing the Galway Hurdle last time, and of obvious interest if able to translate that form back to this sphere for shrewd connections.

Form: 59423-5

(9)

Glasses Up^v1¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-3| J: P Mathers| T: R M Smith| OR: 79| D

33/1

Not running badly, and has dropped to a winning mark, but he plies his trade in lesser handicaps as a rule, and surprise if he was good enough in a race of this nature, with a first-time visor another variable to consider.

Form: 6-35443

Non-Runners

(11)

Fayez²⁵

Weight: 9-10| Age: 5

T: D O'Meara J: D Tudhope

(10)

Another Touch⁴²

Weight: 9-4| Age: 6

T: R A Fahey J: T Hamilton

(7)

Mikmak¹⁴

Weight: 8-11| Age: 6

T: T D Easterby J: D Allan

Forecasts

Forest Of Dean (6/4), Rise Hall (9/2), Tudor City (6/1), Johnny Drama (9/1), Beringer (9/1), Fayez (10/1), Mikmak (12/1), Furzig (14/1), Another Touch (14/1), Victory Command (16/1), Ventura Knight (20/1), Society Red (20/1), Cockalorum (25/1), Glasses Up (33/1), Poet's Dawn (50/1), Star Archer (50/1), Dragon Mall (50/1)

FOREST OF DEAN had a lot in hand when winning what was the Extel handicap at Goodwood last time, and he can follow up despite a 7lb rise in the weights. Galway Hurdle hero Tudor City is the obvious threat, with Rise Hall and Beringer also likely to play a part in the finish.