13:50 York

Wednesday 18 August 2021

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Sky Bet And Symphony Group Handicap

Off time: 13:54 | Winning time: 1m 3.11s

(10)

May Sonic²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: P Hanagan| T: C Hills| OR: 104

40/1

Already a 3-time winner this year who posted career best when landing 9-runner handicap at Chelmsford City (6f) 29 days ago. Up another 3 lb but he's much respected.

Form: 141721

(5)

Hurricane Ivor¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 102| D

7/1

Big improver for yard from France, stepping up on his Sandown victory (dead-heated) with an excellent second at Ascot. Only 15th in Stewards' Cup on heavy ground last time. Well worth another chance.

Form: 15-0120

(19)

El Astronaute¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 102| CD

25/1

Scored at Chester in May but last of 5 in conditions event at Hamilton (5f) 18 days ago. Landed this contest in 2018 though and the sort to bounce back.

Form: 4-19825

(4)

Snazzy Jazzy¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Oisin Murphy| T: L A Mullaney| OR: 101

20/1

Ayr Silver Cup winner during his time with Clive Cox. Yet to hit top form in three runs for his new yard this term, sixth of 10 in handicap at Ascot 11 days ago. Others appeal more.

Form: 355-046

(22)

Mountain Peak²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: E Walker| OR: 100| D

33/1

Useful handicapper who is as good as ever this year, landing 6-runner handicap at Ascot (5f, firm) 26 days ago. Ought to be competitive again.

Form: 5-54351

(20)

Pendleton^p⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: M Dods| OR: 99| CD

12/1

Likeable sprinter who won over C&D in May only to run poorly in Wokingham at Royal Ascot in June. Sort to get back on track now after a break for his in-form yard so not written off by any means.

Form: 512/210

(21)

Jawwaal²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: J P Spencer| T: M Dods| OR: 99| D

33/1

Completed a Doncaster double in cosy fashion in July but he beat only one in 5f handicap at Ascot 26 days ago. Still one for the shortlist.

Form: 775115

(6)

Desert Safari¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: James Doyle| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 97| D

11/1

Has slipped in the weights and right back on song when second of 10 in handicap at Ascot (5f, good to soft) 11 days ago. One to be interested in now.

Form: 000372

(16)

Whenthedealinsdone^p²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: W Buick| T: R A Teal| OR: 99| D

7/1

Gelded and back to winning ways when bagging Windsor handicap in June. Added to that in good style at Goodwood four weeks ago so he's well in the mix despite 6 lb rise in the weights.

Form: 3-47161

(1)

Lahore²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Rowan Scott| T: Phillip Makin| OR: 97| CD

40/1

Made into a very useful sprinter in 2020, scoring over C&D, but he's yet to fire in three runs this term, only thirteenth of 14 in handicap here 25 days ago. Needs to get back on track.

Form: 060-060

(9)

Ostilio¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: L Morris| T: P T Midgley| OR: 96

40/1

Smart for Simon Crisford in 2020, bagging 7f listed race at Redcar in October. However, he has made little impact in 6 starts for present connections so others are much preferred.

Form: 960000

(14)

Lord Riddiford¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: R Kingscote| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 95| D

50/1

Enhanced fine AW strike rate when winning twice in February, including 5f listed at Lingfield. Cashed in on a lower turf mark at Goodwood but well held under a penalty at Musselburgh last time.

Form: 105015

(11)

Twilight Calls²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: David Probert| T: H Candy| OR: 95| BF| D

11/2

Further improvement when taking 5f handicap at Newmarket in July and wasn't seen to best effect when fourth of 13 in handicap at Goodwood last time. Likely more to come yet, and he needs considering.

Form: 22-1214

(13)

Live In The Moment¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: R Havlin| T: A West| OR: 93| CD

12/1

C&D winner who enjoyed a superb 2020, scoring 5 times. Back from 11 months off with encouraging third of 9 at Chelmsford City (5f) 15 days ago and is one for the shortlist.

Form: 21111-3

(17)

Major Jumbo^p¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 93| C| D

25/1

Winless since 2019 but back on track now, ridden too aggressively at Ascot and Goodwood on his last two outings. Course winner and one to consider eased 2 lb.

Form: 0-56360

(7)

Nomadic Empire^p⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 94| D

16/1

Without a win since last summer but he arrives in good nick, second of 7 in handicap at Doncaster (5f) 4 days ago. Shouldn't be underestimated.

Form: 422902

(3)

Copper Knight^t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 92| CD

18/1

5-time C&D winner, latest in May, and posted good second of 10 in handicap at Doncaster (5f) 13 days ago. Can't be dismissed.

Form: 157502

(2)

Ornate^p⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 8-11| J: David Egan| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 91| D

66/1

Useful gelding who scored twice on the AW in the winter. Not at his best of late though, tried visored when fifth of 7 at Doncaster (5f) 4 days ago. Cheekpieces back on now but others more persuasive.

Form: 000905

(8)

Mondammej^h²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 90| D

12/1

Evidently quirky, but now more tractable and close-up third in Ascot handicap (5f) in July. Not ideally drawn over 6f here last time and is no forlorn hope.

Form: 304237

(12)

Soul Seeker⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 87| CD

12/1

Likeable sort who continues to thrive for this yard, adding fourth success to the tally over C&D in July. Respectable seventh of 20 in handicap at Ripon (6f) 4 days ago and not dismissed here.

Form: 622117

(15)

First Company^b²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Harrison Shaw| T: D Carroll| OR: 89| D

150/1

Capable of useful form but nowhere near his best when taking small-field Ayr novice (5f) earlier this month. Well below par both runs since so it's easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 405100

(18)

Indian Sounds³²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Ben Robinson| T: P T Midgley| OR: 87| D

50/1

Yet to add to his three 5f wins in 2020 but he arrives in good nick, runner-up at Haydock (5f) 32 days ago. Ought to be competitive again.

Form: 5-50362

Forecasts

Twilight Calls (11/2), Hurricane Ivor (7/1), Whenthedealinsdone (7/1), Desert Safari (11/1), Live In The Moment (12/1), Mondammej (12/1), Pendleton (12/1), Soul Seeker (12/1), Nomadic Empire (16/1), Copper Knight (18/1), Snazzy Jazzy (20/1), El Astronaute (25/1), Major Jumbo (25/1), Jawwaal (33/1), Mountain Peak (33/1), Ostilio (40/1), May Sonic (40/1), Lahore (40/1), Indian Sounds (50/1), Lord Riddiford (50/1), Ornate (66/1), First Company (150/1)

Plenty in with a shout. HURRICANE IVOR had looked a sprinter firmly on the up until floundering in the mud in the Stewards' Cup and he is taken to bounce back in style for his in-form yard. Pendleton is another with better days ahead of him and he heads the list of dangers, although Whenthedealinsdone and Major Jumbo are two more who command plenty of respect in an ultra-competitive sprint.