16:50 York

Friday 14 May 2021

All13:4014:1014:4015:1015:4016:1516:50

Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Handicap

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 2m 34.22s

(6)

Kondo Isami¹⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: B A Curtis| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 82

3/1

Has improved a chunk with each of his three runs, and opened account in good style in 1m2f Chelmsford City novice in December. Will be suited by this longer trip. Sort to go on improving in handicaps.

Form: 231-

(1)

Happy³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 82| BF

4/1

Progressive son of Galileo who posted excellent second in 1m2f Beverley handicap on his return. Up 5 lb but has more to offer as his stamina is drawn out. Well worth considering.

Form: 833-2

(4)

Currency Exchange^p³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: W Buick| T: J Ferguson| OR: 79

9/1

Thirsk 7f maiden winner at 2 yrs who arrives in very good nick, staying-on third of 11 in handicap at Nottingham (10.2f) 37 days ago. One for the shortlist granted this stiffer test.

Form: 165-423

(7)

Thomas Cochrane^v1³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: J Mitchell| T: Tom Clover| OR: 77

16/1

Landed 1m3f Kempton novice before creditable fourth of 7 in minor event at Leicester (11.8f) 35 days ago. Visor on for handicap debut. Needs considering.

Form: 314

(9)

Fairmac²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 77| BF

10/1

Fair 7f juvenile who has returned in good form in handicaps this spring, third of 5 at Doncaster (11.9f) 20 days ago. Not ruled out despite being nudged up 1 lb.

Form: 174-433

(11)

Eclipse De Lunar²¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 76

15/2

Narrowly scored in 1m Ayr novice before creditable sixth on handicap bow here in October. Son of Sea The Moon is no forlorn hope now taking a big step up in distance on his return.

Form: 216-

(2)

Farhan¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: R L Moore| T: J Butler| OR: 76

4/1

Ended 2020 with 1m2f Pontefract novice win and back with promising nose second in 1m2f Salisbury handicap 12 days ago, front two clear. Holds good claims off an unchanged mark.

Form: 25331-2

(5)

Intello Boy²³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Megan Nicholls| T: T D Easterby| OR: 74

50/1

Showed some promise when twice placed in 7f/1m novices but ended 2020 with last of 7 in 1m Ayr nursery. Has a bit to prove after 7 months off.

Form: 7327-

(8)

Doctor Parnassus¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 72

18/1

Son of Make Believe who is improving steadily and he posted good second of 3 in 1m2f Ayr novice 17 days ago. Goes into handicaps with more to come up in trip. Possibilities.

Form: 6-52

(10)

Tashkhan⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: G Lee| T: B Ellison| OR: 70

12/1

Ex-Irish gelding who returned much improved to bag 1m2f Navan handicap on final run for Emmet Mullins. Open to futher progress, and shouldn't be underestimated for his new yard.

Form: 087-1

Non-Runners

(3)

Haveyoumissedme¹⁹⁵

Weight: 9-2| Age: 3

T: I Jardine J: A Mullen

Forecasts

Kondo Isami (3/1), Farhan (4/1), Happy (4/1), Eclipse De Lunar (15/2), Currency Exchange (9/1), Fairmac (10/1), Tashkhan (12/1), Thomas Cochrane (16/1), Haveyoumissedme (16/1), Doctor Parnassus (18/1), Intello Boy (50/1)

Mark Johnston has captured the past two runnings of this handicap and he looks to have a strong hand once again. Galileo colts KONDO ISAMI and Happy both really catch the eye and are taken to fight out the finish with narrow preference given to the former. Salisbury runner-up Farhan and ex-Irish gelding Tashkhan also have more to offer and both merit a second look too in an intriguing contest.