16:55 York

Saturday 22 May 2021

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2016:5517:25

Reg Bond 'Always And Forever' Handicap

Off time: 16:57 | Winning time: 1m 41.79s

(5)

Aquaman¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: E J Walsh| T: R Varian| OR: 87

10/1

Didn't need to improve to open account in Catterick novice (7f, good) on return in April. Things didn't really go his way (forced wide) when fourth of 7 on Chester handicap debut since.

Form: 862-14

(3)

Darvel¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 84

22/1

Confirmed debut promise when winning novice at Ayr last summer. Creditable second in small-field handicaps at Beverley (good) and Haydock (heavy) this spring. Bit more needed.

Form: 4170-22

(8)

The Flying Ginger²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 82| CD

28/1

C&D winner on soft last autumn. Not up to listed company twice since, including on reappearance, but more realistic chance back in handicap.

Form: 89219-7

(1)

Northern Express¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR: 80| BF

3/1

Debut winner last year. Failed to progress in 2 subsequent juvenile starts but he's posted 2 solid efforts in handicaps this year, latterly when chasing home Wobwobwob at Dante meeting here (7f).

Form: 127-32

(10)

Blu Boy^b³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: P J McDonald| T: E Bethell| OR: 77| D

9/1

Rapid improver for his new trainer, easily winning at Newcastle (AW) and Beverley last month. Handicapper had his say since but no surprise were he to have more to offer.

Form: 655-611

(6)

Maison de York²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: S H James| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 76| D

9/1

AW novice winner over 6f last November and followed up in 1m Redcar handicap on his reappearance for a yard which continues in good form. Ought to remain very competitive after 3 lb rise.

Form: 741-1

(4)

Sunset Bay²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Edward Greatrex| T: E Walker| OR: 76

16/1

Matched the pick of her 2-y-o form when runner-up in 7f Thirsk maiden on reappearance 3 weeks ago. Opening mark not obviously generous but it's clearly early days.

Form: 446-2

(11)

Yorkshire Lady¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Joanna Mason⁽³⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 75| D

10/3

Progressive in handicaps, building on a good reappearance second at Beverley when readily resuming winning ways at Ripon (1m, good to soft) 15 days ago. 7 lb rise may not stop her.

Form: 9471-21

(2)

Eclipse De Lunar⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 75| D

11/2

Ayr novice winner (1m, soft) last autumn but has failed to progress in 2 handicaps here since. 1½m may have been too far on reappearance but others still more obvious.

Form: 216-9

(7)

Cosmos Raj⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Cam Hardie| T: D O'Meara| OR: 70| BF| D

12/1

Off the mark in 1m Wetherby handicap in April. Good runner-up efforts both outings since but this does represent a step up in grade for him.

Form: 332122

(9)

Possible Ambition²⁶¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: J P Sullivan| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 70

40/1

Failed to build on his debut run in 3 subsequent outings last year, including a couple of handicaps. Still unexposed but perhaps best watched on this return unless the betting hints otherwise.

Form: 5574-

Forecasts

Northern Express (3/1), Yorkshire Lady (10/3), Eclipse De Lunar (11/2), Maison de York (9/1), Blu Boy (9/1), Aquaman (10/1), Cosmos Raj (12/1), Sunset Bay (16/1), Darvel (22/1), The Flying Ginger (28/1), Possible Ambition (40/1)

An interesting 3-y-o handicap. YORKSHIRE LADY looked to have a fair bit in hand at Ripon so she's taken to make light of a further 7 lb rise but there are plenty of possible dangers, headed by Northern Express, Blu Boy and Maison de York.