17:05 Thirsk

Friday 4 September 2020

All13:2013:5014:2014:5515:3016:0016:3517:05

JW 4x4 Northallerton Handicap

Off time: 17:06 | Winning time: 1m 11.02s

(7)

Betsey Trotter^p¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 80| D

25/1

Yet to hit top form since the restart, only eleventh of 12 in handicap at Chester (6.1f, good to soft, 8/1) 15 days ago. Others have achieved more.

Form: 6-05440

(20)

Athollblair Boy²³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Aiden Smithies⁽⁷⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 80| D

40/1

Arrives in decent form, unsuited by drop in trip when eighth of 14 in handicap at Beverley (5f, firm, 20/1) 23 days ago, .On a good mark so well worth considering back at his optimum trip.

Form: 196578

(11)

Dark Defender^p1²²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: S H James| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 79| D

40/1

Latest win at Newmarket in June but eighth of 10 in handicap at Hamilton (6f, good to soft) 22 days ago. Cheekpieces on now but unreliable.

Form: 07-1538

(17)

Fendale⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: G Lee| T: B Smart| OR: 79

20/1

On lengthy losing run but posted good third of 18 in handicap at York (6f, good) 48 days ago, first home in centre group. Much respected off same mark.

Form: 72-7533

(13)

He'zanarab¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Rowan Scott| T: N Tinkler| OR: 78| D

11/1

Below par in 2019 but (28/1) shaped really well on yard debut when second of 8 in handicap at Beverley (5f) 17 days ago, just touched off having started slowly. Big player.

Form: 35900-2

(14)

Medicine Jack^v³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 78| D

20/1

Seventeen runs since last win in 2018 but respectable seventh of 12 in handicap at Hamilton (6f, soft) 34 days ago. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 803227

(16)

Conga^p1²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 78| D

20/1

Back on song when second of 10 in handicap at Hamilton (6f, good to soft) 22 days ago. Nudged up 1 lb but cheekpieces on now so can make presence felt again.

Form: 351-062

(18)

Kindly²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Sean Kirrane⁽⁵⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 78| D

11/1

Latest win at Hamilton in July and has continued in excellent form, second of 8 in handicap at Chester (5.1f, good) 21 days ago. In the mix.

Form: 9-86122

(9)

Swissterious²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: R P Downey| T: T D Barron| OR: 78

11/1

Twelve runs since last win in 2018, and below-form fifth of 10 in handicap over C&D 26 days ago. Others preferred.

Form: 00-7925

(3)

Captain Jameson^p²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 77| D

16/1

Sixteen runs since last win in 2018. 10/1, tenth of 11 in handicap at Ripon (6f, good to firm) 29 days ago. Cheekpieces back on with work to do.

Form: 35-5980

(5)

Luxor^b¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: J Fanning| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 77| D

9/1

Winless since 2018 but arrives in good form, poorly drawn when fifth of 11 in handicap at Chester (6.1f, good to soft) 15 days ago. Enters calculations dropped 1 lb.

Form: 06-8865

(2)

Buccaneers Vault²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: K Stott| T: P T Midgley| OR: 77| CD

14/1

Latest win at Redcar in June and creditable fifth of 12 in handicap (11/1) at Newmarket (6f, good to firm) 20 days ago. C&D winner too so shortlisted.

Form: 3-71345

(6)

Turn To Rock²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: J Garritty| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 76| D

16/1

Latest win at Newmarket in July but below-form fifth of 10 in handicap at Hamilton (6f, good to soft) 22 days ago. Sort to bounce back so not ruled out.

Form: 41-9215

(1)

Mr Orange^p²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Barry McHugh| T: P T Midgley| OR: 76| CD

11/1

Right back on track of late, landing 6f handicap at Pontefract 21 days ago in excellent style. Up 6 lb but this C&D winner is greatly respected.

Form: 60-0831

(10)

The Armed Man²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Paula Muir⁽³⁾| T: C W Fairhurst| OR: 76| CD

15/2

Cashed in on reduced mark when scoring at Haydock (6f, good) 24 days ago. Back up 5 lb but this 4-time C&D winner is sure to be on the premises.

Form: 40-6881

(8)

James Watt²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: P Mulrennan| T: P T Midgley| OR: 74

20/1

Twenty runs since last win in 2018 but (8/1) creditable third of 14 in handicap at Beverley (5f, firm) 23 days ago, despite missing break. Figures on handy mark so worth considering.

Form: 0-84573

(4)

Erich Bloch¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: J P Sullivan| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 73| D

33/1

7/1, respectable seventh of 15 in handicap at Ayr (6f, good to soft) 11 days ago, needing stiffer test. Others appeal more.

Form: 00-3737

(19)

Paddy Power²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 72| CD

18/1

C&D winner but arrives on back of modest tenth of 12 to The Armed Man at Haydock (6f, good, 40/1) 24 days ago. More needed.

Form: 1-08700

(15)

Musharrif^t⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 8-13| J: Zak Wheatley⁽⁷⁾| T: D Carroll| OR: 72| D

20/1

Back on song of late and narrowly-beaten third of 16 in handicap at Beverley (5f, good to soft) 8 days ago. Another who enters calculations.

Form: 9-79443

(12)

Mina Velour^h⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 72| D

11/2

Low-mileage 4-y-o who (5/1) shaped well on yard debut after 11 months off when third of 9 in handicap at Haydock (6f, good) 49 days ago. Player off unchanged mark.

Form: 31521-3

Forecasts

Mina Velour (11/2), The Armed Man (15/2), Luxor (9/1), Mr Orange (11/1), Swissterious (11/1), Kindly (11/1), He'zanarab (11/1), Buccaneers Vault (14/1), Captain Jameson (16/1), Turn To Rock (16/1), Paddy Power (18/1), Conga (20/1), Musharrif (20/1), James Watt (20/1), Medicine Jack (20/1), Fendale (20/1), Betsey Trotter (25/1), Erich Bloch (33/1), Dark Defender (40/1), Athollblair Boy (40/1)

A case can be made for plenty here but the most persuasive one is for HE'ZANARAB who rather lost his way last season but returned with a really promising second at Beverley on his debut for Nigel Tinkler and is weighted to go one better here. Pontefract-winner Mr Orange heads the list of dangers, although Mina Velour, Conga, Kindly and the selection's stablemate Athollblair Boy are respected too.