17:30 Thirsk

Saturday 8 May 2021

All17:3018:0518:3519:0519:3520:0520:35

Join Racing TV Now Selling Stakes

Off time: 17:32 | Winning time: 1m 14.07s

(3)

War of Clans²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Gemma Tutty⁽³⁾| T: K Tutty| OR: 58| D

11/1

Fair gelding. Below form seventh of 12 in handicap over C&D (good to firm) on reappearance 21 days ago. Needs to step up on that.

Form: 54880-7

(1)

Afro Blue^v¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: D Allan| T: M Appleby| OR: 54

4/1

Modest gelding. Bit below form seventh of 12 in handicap at Yarmouth (1m, good to firm, 18/1) 18 days ago, weakening. Return to a shorter trip may suit.

Form: 0-74377

(9)

Ballyvil¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Jonathan Fisher⁽⁵⁾| T: S A Harris| OR: 65

40/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 200/1, first run since leaving Ellmarie Holden when thirteenth of 14 in handicap at Southwell (7f) 12 days ago.

Form: 0809-0

(4)

Firsteen^p,t⁸⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Cam Hardie| T: R Menzies| OR: 49

9/1

Modest mare. One win from 27 Flat runs. Below form sixth of 12 in handicap at Wolverhampton (7f) 89 days ago, merely passing beaten rivals. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 752-406

(7)

Avior Star^p1,h1¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: T Hamilton| T: Phillip Makin| OR: 58

6/1

Creditable fourth in 6f Catterick handicap on reappearance but needs to shrug off a poor effort here since. Has a hood and cheekpieces on for the first time.

Form: 3234-40

(2)

Tenth Century^b1⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Joanna Mason⁽⁵⁾| T: A Keatley| OR: 64

4/1

Fair gelding. Possibly unsuited by fibresand when well-held fifth in 6f Southwell handicap latest. Blinkers on first time. Player at this lower level.

Form: 2024-75

(8)

Catherine's Girl^p¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: A Mullen| T: Mrs A Duffield| OR: 45

28/1

Musselburgh handicap winner in cheekpieces last September. No headgear when well held on Southwell reappearance but it's back in place now.

Form: 80516-9

(6)

Mo Celita²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Laura Coughlan⁽⁵⁾| T: Adrian Nicholls| OR: 60| D

7/4

Made a successful start for this yard in 6f Leicester seller 29 days ago, holding on gamely. May be capable of notching another win here.

Form: 7-461

(10)

Fliss Floss¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: J P Sullivan| T: Ollie Pears| OR: 54

33/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Last of 9 in handicap (28/1) at Catterick (7f, good) on reappearance 17 days ago.

Form: 036-9

Non-Runners

(5)

Carla Koala¹⁸

Weight: 9-0| Age: 5

T: G Hanmer J: S H James

Forecasts

Mo Celita (7/4), Tenth Century (4/1), Afro Blue (4/1), Avior Star (6/1), Firsteen (9/1), War of Clans (11/1), Catherine's Girl (28/1), Fliss Floss (33/1), Carla Koala (33/1), Ballyvil (40/1)

MO CELITA made a winning debut for Adrian Nicholls in a similar contest at Leicester last month and is taken to follow up. Tenth Century may have been unsuited by fibresand at Southwell last week and he's a possible threat based on his turf form prior to that, particularly if blinkers have a positive effect. Afro Blue may prove best of the rest.