17:20 York

Thursday 9 July 2020

All12:2512:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:4516:2016:5017:20

Sky Bet Thank You Key Workers Handicap

Off time: 17:26 | Winning time: 1m 37.9s

(8)

Nicholas T¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: K Stott| T: J S Goldie| OR: 100| D

16/1

Ayr specialist (7-8 career wins there) made a winning reappearance at his beloved Scottish track last month; rated 4lb higher now and has yet to produce anything like his best in four previous Knavesmire starts.

Form: 14320-1

(17)

Orbaan¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Harry Bentley| T: D O'Meara| OR: 100| D

25/1

Dual French 1m winner at up to Listed level for Andre Fabre in 2018 and got close to Barney Roy at Longchamp (1m, soft) in May 2019; never involved on stable bow at Newmarket recently but that was off a 402 absence so may be fitter now.

Form: 185/24-8

(2)

Brian Epstein²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 98| D

5/2

Lightly-raced four-year-old colt; returned with a pleasing second at Haydock (1m, good; 9-2) last month and probably matched that with midfield finished in Silver Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot (1m, good; 9-1). 3lb higher now but should run his race.

Form: 5421-20

(4)

Firmament^p²³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: James Doyle| T: D O'Meara| OR: 95| CD

7/2

Can be frustrating to follow and has just one win since 2016, though that win came here last year over 7f; well held in Buckingham Palace Handicap last time at Ascot and others make more appeal for win purposes.

Form: 5-26940

(6)

Muraad²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Dane O'Neill| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 93

6/1

Low-mileage AW novice winner from last year; reappeared with promising second at Sandown (1m, good; 9-1) middle of last month and may build on that from 2lb higher mark with trainer in good form.

Form: 3/1328-2

(10)

So Beloved²²

Age: 10| Weight: 8-13| J: Angus Villiers⁽⁵⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 92| C| D

14/1

Group 3 winner at Goodwood in 2015 but hasn't won since a Listed success at Haydock following year; never a threat in Silver Hunt Cup last month and hard to forecast dramatic turnaround even with Angus Villiers taking off 5lb.

Form: 0724-50

(5)

Universal Gleam²²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: S A Gray| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 92| D

28/1

Steady and reliable sort last year, winning 5 out of 15 starts; quick ground on turf is ideal but is another seeking to forget a wide margin Royal Ascot defeat in the Silver Hunt Cup firmly behind. More required to defy this rating.

Form: 71-3410

(13)

Irreverent³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Barry McHugh| T: R A Fahey| OR: 89| D

25/1

Enjoyed a good campaign in 2019 winning three times at up 1m; just 2lb clear of previous win-mark and likely seen to better effect here than when returning on the AW at Newcastle last month (first AW run); could go well.

Form: 38614-7

(15)

Elerfaan²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-6| J: Phil Dennis| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 85

50/1

Low-mileage for six-years-old, runner-up in Chester handicap in May 2019 over 7f on good-to-soft off mark of 85; only two runs since though and last month's return to the track at Doncaster seemingly was needed. Eased 2lb and worth betting check.

Form: 14/227-0

(9)

Captain Jameson¹⁹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-5| J: Nathan Evans| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 84| C

33/1

Without a win since October 2018 course success over 6f; in and out year in 2019 but handicapper isn't exactly loosening his grasp and perhaps best watched on this seasonal return.

Form: 83235-5

(3)

Kylie Rules¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 83| D

14/1

Mare tends to do bulk of her winning at Beverley; she was poor in one previous start at this track but ran a couple of sound races last month over 1m and could make a bid having been dropped 2lb since.

Form: 0735-45

(14)

Tadleel¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: P Mathers| T: R A Fahey| OR: 83| BF| D

16/1

Made a winning start for new connections when scoring on the Tapeta at Newcastle last month over 7f; couldn't justify 13-8 favouritism next time at Ayr (1m, good) off this mark but far from ruled out on his best form for previous handler.

Form: 3953-15

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to all bets - deduction 10p in the pound

Non-Runners

(7)

Silent Attack²³

Weight: 9-7| Age: 7

T: A W Carroll J: Jason Watson

(1)

Fox Premier²²

Weight: 9-4| Age: 4

T: A M Balding J: Oisin Murphy

(11)

Game Player³⁴²

Weight: 9-2| Age: 5

T: R Varian J: J Mitchell

(16)

Northernpowerhouse¹⁸

Weight: 8-6| Age: 4

T: B Smart J: G Lee

(12)

Brother McGonagall²⁷⁴

Weight: 8-3| Age: 6

T: T D Easterby J: Rachel Richardson

Forecasts

Brian Epstein (5/2), Firmament (7/2), Muraad (6/1), Game Player (8/1), Fox Premier (8/1), Northernpowerhouse (10/1), So Beloved (14/1), Kylie Rules (14/1), Silent Attack (14/1), Tadleel (16/1), Nicholas T (16/1), Brother McGonagall (20/1), Orbaan (25/1), Irreverent (25/1), Universal Gleam (28/1), Captain Jameson (33/1), Elerfaan (50/1)

The fiendish finale, you could make a case for half a dozen and more. Orbaan is likely better than he showed on first start for this trainer and should show it soon, while the same goes for Tadleel; despite being a beaten favourite at Ayr last time. Game Player is liable to defy his current mark before long but does lack a run, while it would be foolish to allow Muraad an easy time of things up front. One against the field however is BRIAN EPSTEIN, who went close on his comeback at Haydock (form boosted afterwards) and has since at least matched that in the Silver Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot despite the draw bias that impacted his chance.