16:40 York

Saturday 22 August 2020

All13:5014:2515:0015:4016:1016:4017:10

Sky Bet Handicap

Off time: 16:40 | Winning time: 2m 13.84s

(14)

Mountain Hunter^p³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: Oisin Murphy| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 107| D

16/1

Gained third win of 2019 in listed race at Newmarket and arrives in decent form this time around, third in Haydock listed event last month. Respected.

Form: 530373

(8)

Fifth Position²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 104| D

5/1

Low-mileage 4-y-o who scored over this trip at Doncaster before good fourth in John Smith's Cup over C&D. Too free in blinkers last time so not ruled out with headgear left off now.

Form: 58-3138

(11)

Sky Defender¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 104| D

28/1

In excellent form since resumption, winning at Epsom on Derby day and in frame at Glorious Goodwood and Chester last two starts. Considered.

Form: 241024

(1)

Maydanny²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Jim Crowley| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 101| D

7/2

Got back on the up in no uncertain terms when making all in 10f handicap at Glorious Goodwood, quickening clear for 5l victory. 11 lb rise demands more but still lightly raced so rates a big player.

Form: 22-1751

(15)

Derevo²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: R L Moore| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 96| D

7/2

Dual handicap winner last summer and has shaped well both runs on return, poorly drawn when excellent fourth to Maydanny at Glorious Goodwood last one. More to offer so contender off unchanged mark.

Form: 4116-34

(3)

Aasheq¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 94| D

25/1

In good form in the first half of last season and not disgraced after 13 months off when sixth of 9 in handicap at Chester (10.3f) 12 days ago, set plenty to do. Shortlisted for in-form yard.

Form: 0/1338-6

(9)

Anythingtoday²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 92| C| D

33/1

Dual winner for David O'Meara last term. Good placed efforts first 2 runs for new yard but only fair efforts since in midfield in John Smith's Cup here and Glorious Goodwood handicap. Needs bit more.

Form: 8-32000

(5)

Cape Cavalli^v²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: W Buick| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 91| CD

10/3

Ready scorer here in July and not disgraced off 8 lb higher when midfield behind Maydanny in handicap at Glorious Goodwood, not best drawn and also short of room. Yet another who can't be discounted.

Form: 129-219

(16)

Glasses Up²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: P Mathers| T: R M Smith| OR: 87| D

33/1

Arrives very much on the up and bidding for a hat-trick after back-to-back wins at Ayr last month. Up 5 lb and this is tougher but he's not dismissed lightly.

Form: 0-01211

(2)

Lucander⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett| OR: 94| C

10/1

Three-time winner as a juvenile who improved again when close third on Haydock reappearance but he underperformed when stepped up to this trip at Newmarket. In good hands so not written off yet.

Form: 1311-39

(4)

Cockalorum^b²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: Rowan Scott| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 86| D

28/1

Winless since the restart and only fair effort when sixth of 9 in 10f Newcastle handicap last time. Slipping in the weights but still needs to step forward.

Form: 24-2086

(17)

Benadalid⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-3| J: Phil Dennis| T: C W Fairhurst| OR: 83| D

125/1

Cashed in off reduced mark to land 10f handicap at Ripon in June and not disgraced when fifth off 4 lb higher there only run since. This is much tougher though so a big ask.

Form: 140-915

(7)

Silver Dust²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: David Egan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 82

33/1

Made it 3 wins from last 5 starts in 1m handicap at Hamilton last month and posted good fourth off 6 lb higher mark at Thirsk last time. Should prove effective over this longer trip so not ruled out.

Form: 312114

(10)

Irv²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: Hollie Doyle| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 82| C

66/1

Dual winner over 1m here last summer but last of 9 in handicap back here 28 days ago when never going well. Should stay this 10f trip but needs to bounce back.

Form: 1090-29

(13)

Society Red¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 8-0| J: Cam Hardie| T: R A Fahey| OR: 79| CD

33/1

It's seventeen runs since his last win in 2018 but he arrives on back of creditable third of 12 in 1m handicap at Leicester 12 days ago. C&D winner but has no easy task from 1 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 746-553

Non-Runners

(6)

Sinjaari³⁵

Weight: 9-9| Age: 4

T: W J Haggas J: Tom Marquand

(12)

Pivoine¹²

Weight: 9-6| Age: 6

T: A M Balding J: S De Sousa

Forecasts

Cape Cavalli (10/3), Derevo (7/2), Maydanny (7/2), Sinjaari (9/2), Fifth Position (5/1), Lucander (10/1), Mountain Hunter (16/1), Aasheq (25/1), Sky Defender (28/1), Cockalorum (28/1), Anythingtoday (33/1), Glasses Up (33/1), Society Red (33/1), Silver Dust (33/1), Pivoine (33/1), Irv (66/1), Benadalid (125/1)

A red-hot handicap but it's hard to ignore the claims of MAYDANNY after his scintillating front-running display at Glorious Goodwood, even off this much higher mark, and he's taken to fend off Sinjaari, who also brings top-class handicap form to the table after his John Smith's Cup victory here. Derevo, Fifth Position and Cape Cavalli are all interesting candidates too who command much respect.