16:50 York
Thursday 9 July 2020
All12:2512:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:4516:2016:5017:20
Sky Bet Thank You NHS Handicap
- 4YO plus  |  Class 4  |  2m 56y  |  Good to Soft  |  8 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 16:51Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 3m 38.68s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Useful dual-purpose horse, came back from a break to run a very respectable 6l fifith to Who Dares Wins in the Queen Alexandra at Ascot, a run that earned him a 4lb rise in the weights. No secrets at the age of 10 but could go well.
Two wins in two starts in 2017, both for Charlie Appleby, now in the care of Donald McCain. Well bred and the fact he's not been seen for over 1000 days suggests connections still think it is worth bringing him back. Will stay, and of interest.
Change of scenery has done him the power of good, 2-2 since joining Ben Haslam and a ready winner over 2m at Haydock last time. Handicapper hits him with a 7lb rise but he's enjoying life and could be up to completing the hat-trick.
Only win in his five starts to date came over 10f in heavy ground at Epsom last year, and he's been a little expensive to follow since then, twice a beaten favourite and then threw in a poor effort at Kempton last time. Plenty to prove now.
Steadily improving 4yo, winner over 14f ar Sandown around this time last year and consistent efforts since then, running well back at Sandown on reappearance to finish second. Should stay and probably a bit more to come.
C&D winner last July and fairly enough handicapped on that form, but all best form has come with plenty of cut in the ground so unless the heavens open, might find conditions against him. Watch the skies is the advice.
Thorough stayer but she's a hard one to catch right, and she looked very much in need of another run or two after a lacklustre reappearance at Newmarket last month. May be best watched today.
Winner over this trip at Newcastle last October and only 1lb higher here, and making a quick reappearance after running respectably at Doncaster at the weekend over a trip too short. Not out of this, and market support makes him more interesting.
Non-Runners
2
(4)
Northwest Frontier420
Weight: 9-7|Â Â Age: 6
T: Micky Hammond  J: K Stott
NR
5
(2)
Jus Pires19
Weight: 9-2|Â Â Age: 6
T: D Carroll  J: S Donohoe
NR
Forecasts
Solo Saxophone (6/4), Edinburgh Castle (11/4), Young Merlin (11/2), Doctor Cross (11/2), Its'afreebee (16/1), Always Resolute (16/1), Northwest Frontier (25/1), Jus Pires (25/1), Graceful Lady (33/1), Ottonian (50/1)
An interesting contest. Solo Saxophone has been rejuvenated by the move to Ben Haslam and is likely to prove hard to beat, but there are alternatives. YOUNG MERLIN looks sure to appreciate this step up to 2m on what we have seen from his Sandown efforts over slightly shorter and with the likelihood of further improvement to come, gets the vote.< b> ts'afreebie ran a stormer at Royal Ascot and a repeat of that would take him close. At a bigger price Doctor Cross could give each-way backers a run for their money.
- Young Merlin
- Solo Saxophone
- Its'afreebee
Prize Money
1st: £5,013.002nd: £1,492.003rd: £746.004th: £373.00
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