20:00 Thirsk

Wednesday 29 July 2020

All16:3017:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

New Sporting Life App Handicap

Off time: 20:01 | Winning time: 1m 40.02s

(14)

Challet^h1²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods| OR: 65

20/1

Five-race maiden; runner-up here (7f, good to firm) in September 2019; development effectively held back by his free-racing tendencies since; hood now applied seeking improvement from an easing handicap mark.

Form: 324-96

(1)

Muritz¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 65

33/1

Fair third to the Roger Varian-trained Union at Newcastle (7f) in January; has struggled to make her mark since switched to handicapping over a longer trip (1m2f); an easing mark of 65 is feasible.

Form: 54-389

(8)

Itwouldberudenotto¹⁸⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Connor Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 65| BF

33/1

Has done the bulk of his racing on the AW (off the track since January); was narrowly beaten by the front-running Merryweather at Southwell (1m) on his penultimate start; stablemate of the C&D winner International Lion.

Form: 4683-25

(4)

Almuerzo Loco²⁸¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Phil Dennis| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 64

100/1

Didn't achieve a great deal in two starts for Richard Hannon (6f-7f novice races); moved on for £6,000 in October 2019; probably prudent to note any positive market signs on handicap debut for Rebecca Bastiman.

Form: 66-

(11)

Forus¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Connor Beasley| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 64

4/1

Won a Chelmsford novice (7f) for Jamie Osborne before moving on soon afterwards for 12,000gns; largely consistent in this grade since for Grant Tuer - beaten a neck by Havana Go at Hamilton (1m1f, good) 13 days ago; 1lb higher.

Form: 601-542

(9)

Moonlighting²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 64| BF| C

10/1

Made a winning start to her handicapping career when scoring over 7f here (good) last month; narrowly beaten (9-4f) over this trip at Musselburgh on her subsequent start; Tom Eaves takes over in the saddle from Kevin Stott.

Form: 024-12

(10)

Lockdown Dream²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 63

33/1

Improved ever so slightly in three starts in novice/maiden contests (7f-1m), but nowhere near enough to even threaten to tempt on handicap debut; others readily preferred.

Form: 746

(12)

Celestial Wood¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: D Tudhope| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 63

5/1

Has taken minor honours on both starts in handicap company (7f at Wolverhampton, 1m at Ayr); has previous with International Lion, but the handicapper seemingly has him exactly where he wants him on an unchanged mark of 63.

Form: 9-5333

(7)

Miracle Eagle³²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: J Garritty| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 63

25/1

Finished a comfortably held fifth (80-1) to Angel Of The Glen on C&D debut (maiden fillies'); absolutely miles behind the emphatic winner Tilsit at Newcastle (1m) on her next start; best watched on handicap debut.

Form: 55

(6)

Nat Love²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: P J McDonald| T: S Gollings| OR: 63

5/2

Winner of a weak Epsom maiden (7f, good) for Mick Channon in August 2019; 0-6 since, albeit did make the frame on his most recent start at Ripon (1m, good) three weeks ago; can hardly be labelled as progressive.

Form: 665-853

(13)

International Lion^p¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 63| CD

17/2

Class 5 C&D winner (good) last September, who is also clearly effective with some cut underfoot; ran his best race since when second best (Celestial Wood third) to the Sir Mark Prescott-trained Le Reveur at Ayr (1m) 16 days ago; player.

Form: 534-772

(2)

Chosen Star^v1²⁶⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Cieren Fallon⁽³⁾| T: M L W Bell| OR: 62

12/1

Dubawi filly who is best described as a work in progress; hasn't really shown enough to suggest that she's capable of making her presence felt, but given her trainer, she does merit respect in a newly-applied visor; handicap debut.

Form: 088-

(3)

Swan River¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: J Mitchell| T: R Varian| OR: 61

11/1

Australia filly (€210,000 yearling); took a slight step forward on her handicap debut at Beverley (1m2f, good to firm) when finishing fourth of 13 (beaten in excess of 8L) to Union Spirit; can't be totally dismissed.

Form: 6754

Non-Runners

(5)

Dandy's Angel¹⁶

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: J S Wainwright J: D Nolan

Forecasts

Nat Love (5/2), Forus (4/1), Celestial Wood (5/1), International Lion (17/2), Moonlighting (10/1), Swan River (11/1), Chosen Star (12/1), Dandy's Angel (14/1), Challet (20/1), Miracle Eagle (25/1), Lockdown Dream (33/1), Muritz (33/1), Itwouldberudenotto (33/1), Almuerzo Loco (100/1)

A low-grade handicap. Forus has proved largely consistent in this grade since joining Grant Tuer, going close at Hamilton on his most recent start. Meanwhile a fairly obvious case can be made for the previous Thirsk winners Moonlighting (7f) and International Lion (1m), unlike the so far disappointing duo Chosen Star (Michael Bell) and Swan River (Roger Varian). However, we'll elect to take a more ambitious tilt at the upped-in-trip John Wainwright-trained filly DANDY'S ANGEL. She showed signs of life in a blanket finish at Ayr (7f) earlier this month, with that bare form receiving a couple of timely boosts since.