15:50 York

Friday 11 October 2019

All14:0014:4015:1515:5016:2016:5517:30

Racebets Handicap

Off time: 15:52 | Winning time: 3m 8.31s

(9)

Hamish⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: D Tudhope| T: W J Haggas| OR: 98| CD

13/8

Progressive gelding who is 2-4 and won the Melrose over C&D in August. 6lb higher today, has won on good to soft, and again looks a leading contender.

Form: 2131

(4)

Deal A Dollar^b,t²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Louis Steward| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 97

16/1

Dual AW winner at around 1m4f. Improving profile. Has yet to run on slow ground on turf, so has to prove he handles it. Can't rule him out up 7lb.

Form: 227121

(12)

Moon King³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett| OR: 91| D

7/1

Reeled off a five-timer at around 1m6f in the spring/summer, but winning run came to an end at Haydock (soft) last time. Still ran well there, Up another 1lb, and it remains possible that the handicapper may not entirely have taken his measure yet.

Form: 111114

(8)

Elysian Flame^b1³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Nathan Evans| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 89

9/1

Dual winner on heavy ground, the more recent being at Hamilton (1m4f) in August, when 9lb lower. Stepped up on that when third at Haydock (1m6f, soft) last time. Blinkers could help him find a little more. Enters calculations.

Form: 618-613

(2)

Future Investment⁷²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: B A Curtis| T: R M Beckett| OR: 89

7/1

Scored twice at up to 1m3f in the spring. They were in novice/maidens, and he has yet to add a handicap to his CV. Ran well from this mark on penultimate start, but held last time. Brother to 2m winner remains of interest upped in trip.

Form: 31130

(11)

Kosciuszko²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 88

20/1

Sandown scorer (1m) last season. Best handicap run came last time at Newbury (1m4f, good to firm), when ½L second from 1lb lower. Unexposed. Pedigree doesn't scream stayer, but shapes as though he could get 1m6f. Unraced on slower than good.

Form: 61-5042

(13)

Emirates Knight¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: David Egan| T: R Varian| OR: 88

40/1

Scored on good to soft at Thirsk (1m) in novices' company in May. Added AW handicap (1m3f) at Kempton in August, when 4lb lower. Held from today's mark last time. Some stamina in family, so worth a tilt over further, but needs improvement.

Form: 163413

(10)

Mondain³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Jason Hart| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 87

33/1

Thorough stayer who has already won over 2m and acts on good to soft. 10lb higher than that 2m success at Thirsk in July, but has look exposed since. More needed.

Form: 321555

(1)

Navajo Pass⁵¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: G Lee| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 85| D

10/1

Improving and acts with cut, as shown last time when a game winner on being stepped up to 1m6f at Carlisle. 4lb rise for that looks fair, and this unexposed gelding looks capable of going close.

Form: 3-221

(7)

Mister Chiang^v¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 84| D

33/1

Handles good to soft, but both turf wins have been on rattling fast ground. Stays 2m½f and arrives on the back of an easy Southwell win over that trip. Up 9lb for that, so things will get tougher here, but not written off.

Form: 156321

(18)

Fox Vardy⁴⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: David Probert| T: M Meade| OR: 83| BF

10/1

Improving Frankel colt who scored over 1m3½f (good) at Windsor in June. Beaten both starts from today's mark since then, but latest effort was another step up. Handles soft, but has it to prove over this far.

Form: 60-3162

(6)

Space Walk^t⁶²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: M Dwyer| T: W J Haggas| OR: 82| BF

16/1

Haydock maiden winner (1m4f, good to soft) in June, and has picked up prize money in both handicap runs since (both 1m6f). Up 2lb for the latest of those, so needs improvement if he is to win this.

Form: 44132

(5)

Holy Kingdom¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: Sean Davis⁽³⁾| T: Tom Clover| OR: 82

33/1

Ran well in a few handicaps and kept going up despite not winning, so was switched back to novice company with success at Chelmsford last time (1m5½f, AW). Same mark for this return to handicapping, so more needed.

Form: 222571

(3)

Jackamundo³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: Cam Hardie| T: D Carroll| OR: 79

25/1

Dual 1m2f winner on testing ground in the spring, the latter when 4lb lower. Initially went up 6lb, but held last two starts, the more recent over 1m6f at Haydock. Stamina to prove, as well as ability to handle this mark.

Form: 671158

(17)

Euro Implosion²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-0| J: Gabriele Malune⁽³⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 75

50/1

Ran up a hat-trick at around 1m4f in August, the last of them coming from a 5lb lower mark. Well held both runs since, including when upped to 2m, and has plenty to prove in this grade from 2lb out of the handicap.

Form: 211107

(15)

Art Of Diplomacy¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-0| J: Kieran Schofield⁽⁵⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 70

33/1

Some early promise came to immediate fruition on his handicap debut, when staying on well to score at Hamilton (1m4f, soft) recently. Up 5lb for that, leaving him 7lb 'wrong' here, but looks made for this trip. Interesting.

Form: 7-541

(14)

Agravain²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-0| J: J P Sullivan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 69| D

66/1

1m6f winner (stays 2m) who has also scored on good to soft. 8lb 'wrong' here, looks exposed and opposable.

Form: 415233

Non-Runners

(16)

El Misk²⁴

Weight: 9-2| Age: 3

T: J & T Gosden J: K T O'Neill

Forecasts

Hamish (13/8), Future Investment (7/1), Moon King (7/1), Elysian Flame (9/1), Fox Vardy (10/1), Navajo Pass (10/1), El Misk (10/1), Space Walk (16/1), Deal A Dollar (16/1), Kosciuszko (20/1), Jackamundo (25/1), Holy Kingdom (33/1), Mondain (33/1), Art Of Diplomacy (33/1), Mister Chiang (33/1), Emirates Knight (40/1), Euro Implosion (50/1), Agravain (66/1)

Favourites have been beaten in all four previous runnings of this races, so there may be a little apprehension for those siding with the likely market leader Hamish. However, the Melrose winner still looks to have a great chance after a 6lb rise, but there may be better value to be had here with NAVAJO PASS, who looks progressive and has a fair bit going for him. Elysian Flame and, at longer odds, stablemate Art Of Diplomacy are both of interest, while Deal A Dollar, Moon King and Kosciuszko are others who should be involved.