16:45 Beverley

Wednesday 12 August 2020

All13:3514:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:4517:1517:50

Walkington Handicap (Div 1)

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 2m 6.48s

(2)

Thomas Cranmer³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: T Eaves| T: Miss T Jackson| OR: 65| D

14/1

Has fallen a whopping 17lb in the weights since his last win (Ripon, 1m2f Class 3) in July 2018; weakened very tamely on seasonal reappearance at Pontefract five weeks ago; this race is theoretically an easier objective.

Form: 44440-0

(3)

Whatwouldyouknow¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: Philip Prince| T: R C Guest| OR: 64| CD

33/1

C&D winner; sits 3lb lower than when finishing second to Luna Magic over C&D (good to soft) last August; finished last of 11 (50-1) on recent seasonal reappearance.

Form: 12390-0

(7)

Philip's Wish^t²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: P Mulrennan| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 62

50/1

Twice placed as a three-year-old (in novice events); has failed to beat a single rival in two starts in 2020; is easing in the weights as a result.

Form: 032-08

(5)

Phoenix Approach⁸^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 62| CD

5/4

Got off the mark in a most pleasing manner over C&D (good) last week, beating Hugo Palmer's Savanna Gold by an ever-widening 3¼L; is expected to prove very tough to beat (in a moderate contest) despite a 6lb penalty.

Form: 656-361

(6)

Luck On Sunday¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: D Tudhope| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 63

5/1

Galileo filly; fetched a whopping €2,000,000 as a yearling; sister to five winners, including Alice Springs (7f-1m, Grp 1); clearly moderate based on what she's shown on the track; the recent Phoenix Thoroughbred news makes her a doubtful runner.

Form: 534

(1)

Miracle Eagle^v1¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: J Garritty| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 60

28/1

Soundly beaten on handicap debut at Thirsk (1m, good) - possibly with mitigating circumstances (was short of room); that said; she's very difficult to swoon over; sports a first-time visor.

Form: 550

(9)

Puckle⁸^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 53| CD

2/1

Like her main market rival Phoenix Approach, she's run well on both previous visits to the Westwood, breaking her duck with a game and willing display of front-running (short-head C&D winner) last week; carries a 6lb penalty.

Form: 69-8021

(4)

Violette Szabo^p1²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Faye McManoman⁽⁵⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 56

40/1

Has ample Beverley experience, but has failed to progress since sent handicapping (0-4); can't be realistically considered despite the sliding handicap mark, and the application of first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 36-0088

(8)

Ben Lilly⁶⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Jason Hart| T: D H Brown| OR: 53

20/1

Already onto his third trainer (previously with Ralph Beckett and John Norton); was withdrawn when declared to race in a visor at Thirsk in late June; prudent to look elsewhere.

Form: 46-8

Forecasts

Phoenix Approach (5/4), Puckle (2/1), Luck On Sunday (5/1), Thomas Cranmer (14/1), Ben Lilly (20/1), Miracle Eagle (28/1), Whatwouldyouknow (33/1), Violette Szabo (40/1), Philip's Wish (50/1)

In light of the recent Phoenix Thoroughbred news, it's considered highly unlikely that the modest Galileo filly Luck On Sunday will stand her ground, so this rests squarely between last week's penalised C&D winners Puckle and PHOENIX APPROACH, with Tim Easterby's charge receiving the vote.