16:50 Thirsk

Saturday 7 September 2019

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:2517:55

Personal Touches Fillies' Handicap

Off time: 16:51 | Winning time: 1m 24.55s

(2)

Zip Along³⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Connor Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 90

20/1

Heavy ground a valid excuse for a poor run when last seen, and had rattled up a hat-trick of wins prior to that. Worry is that she has now been off the track for almost a year, and no hiding place here.

Form: 25/1116-

(4)

Pattie¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: G Lee| T: M R Channon| OR: 89| D

15/2

Just scraped home at Newbury on penultimate start, but clearly vulnerable after going up 3lb for that win, and only seventh despite being beaten just 2L at Goodwood last time.

Form: 938517

(5)

Excellent Times¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 87| D

3/1

Readily held in three runs in the first half of the year, but bounced back after a 10-week break when springing a huge shock at York last month. Needs to prove she can back that effort up now.

Form: 12-5371

(9)

Dance Diva¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 87| D

5/1

Juvenile Listed winner who was well held on her return at Pontefract, but shaped a fair bit better when ninth of 11 to Maid For Life on handicap debut at Goodwood. Failed to build on that behind Excellent Times at York, however.

Form: 056-090

(6)

Kylie Rules¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 86| C

7/1

Rattled off a four-timer at Beverley earlier in the summer, and proved she could do it elsewhere when landing a 1m handicap here last month. Unsuited by drop to 7f behind Excellent Times at York, and that is a worry again here.

Form: 134710

(8)

Astrologer¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 90| D

7/2

Has won three of her last six, and took form up a notch when scoring at Newmarket last time by 1¼L from Hunni. Handicapper asks for more, but she continues to improve, and afforded maximum respect here.

Form: 110361

(7)

Starlight Romance¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 83| D

14/1

Has lost her way of late, and another who was well beaten behind Excellent Times at York, where she tends to produce her best efforts. Has plenty to prove at the moment.

Form: 020790

(3)

Florenza⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: A Elliott| T: C W Fairhurst| OR: 77| C| D

16/1

Course winner has been disappointing in the main since winning over 7f at Doncaster (good) in April, and again looked rather laboured when mid-field over 1m here on her latest outing. Must find her best form.

Form: 094747

(1)

Material Girl^p²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: George Wood| T: R Spencer| OR: 73| CD

9/1

Posted a fair effort when third at Epsom (7f) early last month, but not for the first time she failed to build on that promise when beaten 10L at Nottingham last time. Could bounce back, and a C&D winner in the past, but risky.

Form: 162434

Forecasts

Excellent Times (3/1), Astrologer (7/2), Dance Diva (5/1), Kylie Rules (7/1), Pattie (15/2), Material Girl (9/1), Starlight Romance (14/1), Florenza (16/1), Zip Along (20/1)

Excellent Times beat plenty of these at York last time, and the vanquished have questions to answer again, but Tim Easterby's filly was springing a massive shock, and it remains to be seen whether she can repeat the effort. As such, ASTROLOGER is preferred given she keeps responding to the handicapper's attempts to stop her, and she looks the safest option on balance. Dance Diva isn't one to give up on bearing in mind her juvenile promise, and she completes the shortlist.