14:40 York

Friday 9 October 2020

All13:0013:3514:0514:4015:1015:4516:2016:50

Betsafe Handicap (Heritage Handicap)

Off time: 14:41 | Winning time: 3m 6.57s

(8)

Grand Bazaar¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: M Harley| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 98

15/2

On the up in handicaps this year, worth crediting with some improvement when back to winning ways at Newmarket (12f) last month. 7 lb higher mark to contend with now but not dismissed out of hand.

Form: 211251

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(10)

Toronto²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: P Mulrennan| T: J G Given| OR: 95

100/1

Useful sort at upto 1¼m for Aidan O'Brien who ran best race to date when second for this yard at Haydock (11.6f) 2 starts back. Below that level at Doncaster since but return to softer ground may help

Form: 8-45523

(6)

Favorite Moon^t³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: D Tudhope| T: W J Haggas| OR: 95| D

3/1

Upwardly-mobile 3-y-o who boasts comfortable Haydock victories (14f) either side of disappointment in the Melrose here having proven to free. Remains one to be interested in.

Form: 43-2101

(5)

Strawberry Rock¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: B A Curtis| T: H Palmer| OR: 88

7/1

Rock of Gibraltar gelding who made it 2 wins from 3 career starts when landing a 12f Ripon handicap 2 weeks ago. Open to further improvement moving forward but this is much deeper.

Form: 131

(9)

Zeeband³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: J Mitchell| T: R Varian| OR: 85| D

7/1

Progressed race-by-race to date, supplementing his Ripon handicap debut success (14f) in determined style at Thirsk (14f) 5 weeks ago. Highly likely he has even more in his locker.

Form: 5311

(2)

Punctuation⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 85

10/1

Emphatic 11-length winner of 12f Kempton maiden in February but matched rather than built on that in handicaps subsequently this summer. May find a few too good again.

Form: 166336

(1)

King's Charisma¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Shane Gray| T: D O'Meara| OR: 84

18/1

Improved in line with stepping up in trip this summer, completing hat-trick at Thirsk (12f) in July. Not seen to best effect in Melrose next time but back to form when third at Haydock latest.

Form: 5-11173

(11)

Dancing Harry¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: Angus Villiers⁽⁵⁾| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 82

14/1

Landed sole start as a 2-y-o and hard to knock his consistency in staying handicaps this campaign, runner-up behind Prince Alex at Haydock (14f) last month. Had run of the race then and this tougher.

Form: 045232

(3)

Ispahan³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Nicola Currie| T: D M Simcock| OR: 81

8/1

Promising sort who stepped up again when coming clear with similarly progressive Zeeband at Thirsk (14f) 5 weeks ago. 4 lb higher mark to deal with but open to further progress and shortlisted.

Form: 632

(7)

Prince Alex¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett| OR: 81| D

5/1

Improved at a rate of knots in staying handicaps in recent months, bringing up the 4-timer at Haydock (14f) 2 weeks ago. Overcame a pace bias then and likely he has further progress in him.

Form: 571111

(4)

Bronze River²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-3| J: D Fentiman| T: A M Balding| OR: 80

22/1

Two from 3 at 1m on all weather as a 2-y-o and plenty of respectable efforts in defeat in handicaps this term. However, hasn't been shaping as though this longer trip will suit ideally of late.

Form: 824443

Forecasts

Favorite Moon (3/1), Prince Alex (5/1), Zeeband (7/1), Strawberry Rock (7/1), Grand Bazaar (15/2), Ispahan (8/1), Punctuation (10/1), Dancing Harry (14/1), King's Charisma (18/1), Bronze River (22/1), Toronto (100/1)

A strong 3-y-o handicap with a host of upwardly-mobile sorts in opposition, the vote narrowly in favour of ISPAHAN. He's 1 lb better off for a short-head defeat behind re-opposing Zeeband at Thirsk recently and it is distinctly possible residual greenness was at play in the finish. The latter-named is a live player also, whilst Prince Alex and Favorite Moon are also shortlisted.