17:00 York

Saturday 12 October 2019

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

Free Bets For Lengths With Coral Handicap

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 3m 43.34s

(1)

Aircraft Carrier^b²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: S De Sousa| T: J Ryan| OR: 90

10/1

Three winter AW wins seen him toil this summer in eight starts over a variety of distances. Champion jockey booking a positive but hard to fancy nonetheless.

Form: 805068

(2)

Arrowtown^h²²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: G C O'Neill⁽⁵⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 90| CD

3/1

Won this race a year ago as part of a hat-trick but less compelling claims this time having flopped in the same race he won prior at Ayr last time out.

Form: 2111-98

(11)

Knight Crusader⁷⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: B A Curtis| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 84| D

20/1

Barring an unexplained below-par effort penultimately he is very consistent and won at Sandown over 1m6f latest and has won over 2m also in the past. Faces less exposed rivals in this hotter contest and soft ground is problematic.

Form: 122716

(7)

Orin Swift⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: J G Portman| OR: 81

20/1

Lost his way of late after solid early season form including win over Knight Crusader at Nottingham. Handicap mark now within range but must show more to take advantage.

Form: 122547

(9)

River Icon^p¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: P Mulrennan| T: I Jardine| OR: 80

12/1

Consistent dual-purpose mare been in good form over hurdles and ran well back on the level over 1m4f at Hamilton latest. Untested over this sort of trip on the Flat but stays 2m6f over hurdles so could improve for it; highly respected.

Form: 0/5636-2

(5)

Manzil^b1²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Nathan Evans| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 80

33/1

Won a maiden at Down Royal in June 2018 before a purchase of 85,000 gns in July 2018 by these connections. Belated reappearance saw him struggle at Ayr but may have needed that and longer trip/blinkers here add to intrigue.

Form: 631-0

(8)

Sassie¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: P Hanagan| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 79| D

5/1

Three-time winner for Sylvester Kirk ran well in three starts for this yard without looking overly well handicapped. Trip and ground are ideal here though so not ruled out altogether.

Form: 134535

(6)

Rubenesque^t¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 8-8| J: Jason Hart| T: T Davidson| OR: 77| D

11/2

Revelation since reverting to the Flat this season winning three straight from 2m½f to 2m5f. Only raised 3lb today for last win which gives her a realistic chance to continue the streak. Ground conditions are the worry today.

Form: 253-111

(10)

Doctor Cross²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: Barry McHugh| T: R A Fahey| OR: 75

11/1

Running pretty consistently this term without success over middle distances but rarely looked well handicapped. Must improve for step up in trip is he's going to play a significant role.

Form: 244245

(12)

Royal Cosmic⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-2| J: Sean Davis⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 70

25/1

Six-time winner at up to 1m6f tackles 2m for the first time belatedly but does so on the back of a below par run of form so not one to take a chance on.

Form: 174055

(4)

Forewarning^p1²³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-2| J: Cam Hardie| T: Julia Brooke| OR: 70| BF

8/1

Won over 2m1f at Pontefract and since finished second over C&D and to Rubenesque at Newcastle latest. Same weight terms with that rival but neither of them likely to relish testing ground.

Form: 7-26122

(3)

Contrebasse^p¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: J P Sullivan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 69| D

13/2

Only previous time he tackled 2m on soft ground he was successful at Haydock so after a respectable fourth on heavy over 1m6f latest he makes more appeal today and is definitely one for the shortlist with others not so soft ground effective.

Form: 221344

Forecasts

Arrowtown (3/1), Sassie (5/1), Rubenesque (11/2), Contrebasse (13/2), Forewarning (8/1), Aircraft Carrier (10/1), Doctor Cross (11/1), River Icon (12/1), Orin Swift (20/1), Knight Crusader (20/1), Royal Cosmic (25/1), Manzil (33/1)

With Rubenesque whose form stands out likely to be inconvenienced by ground conditions a chance is taken here on RIVER ICON who has won on soft over hurdles this year and her staying on second over 1m4f latest suggested she can be even better now upped to 2m. Contrebasse is one who will relish every drop of rain and he might just have been the selection had he not been 2lb out of the handicap.