14:25 York

Saturday 21 August 2021

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

Sky Bet Melrose Handicap (Heritage Handicap)

Off time: 14:27 | Winning time: 2m 56.5s

(13)

King Of The Castle^p⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: W Buick| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 96

7/1

Useful performer. Excellent second of 13 in handicap at Down Royal (12.7f, good) 1in June before easily landing odds in a Limerick maiden last month. This trip should suit him.

Form: 45-4321

(10)

Dhushan⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 95| BF

9/2

Bagged nice prize on Musselburgh handicap bow in June and progressed again when second at Ascot the following month (both 1½m). Highly likely more to come for yard which has won this twice since 2012.

Form: 2-2112

(5)

Pleasant Man²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: K Shoemark| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 94

25/1

Improved back from a gelding operation when making a winning handicap debut at Salisbury in June. Creditable fourth at Ascot next time and met some trouble at crucial stage at Goodwood since.

Form: 5-35148

(17)

Moshaawer²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Dane O'Neill| T: R Varian| OR: 93| BF

17/2

Won novices at Kempton (11f) and Doncaster (1½m) in June/July. Left poorly placed when tempo picked up when third on handicap debut 4 weeks ago and remains capable of better.

Form: 3-113

(11)

Tashkhan¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Harry Russell⁽³⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 93| BF| D

16/1

Ex-Irish gelding who has done well for this yard, proving well suited b the step up to 1¾m when scoring at Haydock in July. Beaten at short odds at Pontefract since but it was another creditable run.

Form: 121912

(4)

Marshall Plan^t²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: James Doyle| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 92| BF

12/1

AW novice winner who has shown improved form in defeat in turf handicaps the last twice, shaping as if he's going to be well suited by 1¾m when a never-nearer third over 1½m at Newcastle latest.

Form: 31283

(22)

Oman^b⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: H Crouch| T: R M Beckett| OR: 91| D

16/1

Sound return after a gelding operation when opening account in Salisbury maiden and has resumed progress in blinkers last twice, winning over this trip at Chester last month. Respected up 4 lb.

Form: 23-1331

(9)

Parachute⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: E Walker| OR: 91| BF

18/1

Won at Newmarket in May. Stepped up on that when third of 17 in very competitive King George Handicap at Royal Ascot. Disappointing back at Newmarket since but there's nothing wrong with Ascot form.

Form: 21-3136

(19)

Golden Flame³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: A Kirby| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 91| BF| D

66/1

Bath maiden and AW handicap winner in April. Not up to the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot and back on track when second over 2m at Beverley latest, albeit beaten 5½ lengths.

Form: 3-21102

(3)

Summer's Knight⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 88| D

12/1

Typical improver for the yard, making it 4 wins in last 5 starts when easily seeing off 5 rivals at Ffos Las 9 days ago. 8 lb higher in a much better race now but it's likely there's more to come.

Form: 411211

(15)

Surrey Gold⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: David Egan| T: H Morrison| OR: 87

12/1

Emphatic winner over 11f at Newbury in May on only his second handicap start. Not seen to best effect at Ascot subsequently and remains a colt with potential.

Form: 901-218

(1)

Imperial Sun⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 87

8/1

Improved for 1½m. when readily landing a Wolverhampton handicap last month. Half-brother to St Leger winner Harbour Law so reasonable to assume there'll be more to come up at this trip.

Form: 64-331

(21)

Hard To Fault^t²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 86

22/1

Carlisle maiden winner in July. Looked ready for further when sixth (Marshall Plan third) of 12 on 12.5f Newcastle handicap debut. Needs improvement but is unexposed.

Form: 4216

(2)

Annandale¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Jason Hart| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 84

33/1

Consistent on the whole, shaping well (made effort earlier than ideal) when 3¾ lengths second of 8 to State of Bliss at Ascot (1½m) 14 days ago.

Form: 833272

(16)

Valley Forge³²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 83

10/1

Pretty useful form, making it fourth time lucky in 1½m Ffos Las maiden a month ago. This trip should suit and he's yet another in this line-up with the potential for better.

Form: 5321

(7)

True Courage^v⁴⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Dylan Hogan⁽³⁾| T: M L W Bell| OR: 82| D

33/1

On a roll this summer, completing a hat-trick in smallish fields at Yarmouth (1¾m) in July. Those wins came in Class 5/6 events, though, so this is a jump in class.

Form: 0-82111

(12)

Charging Thunder²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 82

50/1

Novice winner who has improved in handicaps since, coming 5 lengths clear in a small field at Pontefract (1½m, good) 27 days ago. Could be more to come as his stamina is drawn out.

Form: 34131

(14)

Ravenscraig Castle²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-3| J: A Mullen| T: I Jardine| OR: 78

18/1

Much improved for the switch to handicaps, winning at Carlisle (11f) and Ayr (13f) last month. In a much more competitive race now but there's more to come, particularly at this sort of trip.

Form: 734-11

(20)

Doctor Parnassus²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: S De Sousa| T: D O'Meara| OR: 77| BF

66/1

Fairly useful form. Creditable second in small-field Haydock handicap last month but a shade disappointing when only fifth of 6 at Thirsk since. Up in trip. Others much more obvious.

Form: 6-52326

(6)

Alpine Stroll⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: A J Farragher⁽⁵⁾| T: E De Giles| OR: 77

50/1

Maiden who went close to bucking that trend when second to Pleasant Man at Salisbury in June. Another good run there last week. Well worth another go at 1¾m. One who could go well at biggish odds.

Form: 326203

(18)

Diamond Cutter²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-0| J: Faye McManoman⁽³⁾| T: D Menuisier| OR: 73

66/1

Promise on first 2 starts but backward step at Wolverhampton last time. Retains potential for handicaps but this a very tough starting point.

Form: 447

(8)

Carn A Chlamain²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-0| J: Alan Persse⁽⁷⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 70| BF

125/1

Fair maiden who is unlikely to be gaining a first success here from 5 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 722626

Forecasts

Dhushan (9/2), King Of The Castle (7/1), Imperial Sun (8/1), Moshaawer (17/2), Valley Forge (10/1), Surrey Gold (12/1), Summer's Knight (12/1), Marshall Plan (12/1), Tashkhan (16/1), Oman (16/1), Ravenscraig Castle (18/1), Parachute (18/1), Hard To Fault (22/1), Pleasant Man (25/1), True Courage (33/1), Annandale (33/1), Charging Thunder (50/1), Alpine Stroll (50/1), Diamond Cutter (66/1), Golden Flame (66/1), Doctor Parnassus (66/1), Carn A Chlamain (125/1)

A cracking 3-y-o handicap. DHUSHAN has made a very bright start to his career and can step forward again now moving up in trip. John & Thady Gosden pair Imperial Sun and Marshall Plan should also have more to come now going up to 1¾m and head the many dangers. Alpine Stroll is one to bear in mind for those seeking a longer-priced alternative.