14:05 Thirsk

Friday 27 August 2021

All13:0013:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:20

Glenn Baxter Has Never Liked It Handicap

Off time: 14:08 | Winning time: 3m 30.96s

(5)

Stonific¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 76| C| D

4/1

Course winner. Latest win at Ripon in June. Fifth of 7 in handicap at Pontefract (17.1f, good, 9/1) 12 days ago. Capable of a bold show off this mark if he puts his best foot forward.

Form: 615485

(7)

Steel An Icon¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: George Bass⁽⁵⁾| T: M R Channon| OR: 75

3/1

Five wins from 13 runs this year. Career best when winning 10-runner handicap at Bath (13f, good to firm, 11/2) 13 days ago, keeping on well. Up in trip and more needed off this 3 lb higher mark.

Form: 112601

(2)

Billy No Mates^h²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR: 74| C

6/1

Course winner. 80/1, ninth of 12 in handicap at Newcastle (12.4f) 29 days ago. Step back up in trip no bad thing, but others arrive here in better form.

Form: 1155-59

(9)

Toronto³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Ray Dawson| T: D Loughnane| OR: 73

8/1

Eighteen runs since last win in 2019. 11/2, second of 4 in handicap at Pontefract (12f, good) 33 days ago, unsuited by way race developed. Well worth a crack at this trip and he's one to consider.

Form: 704952

(4)

River Icon¹⁰⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 9-9| J: J Garritty| T: M Walford| OR: 70

50/1

9/1, respectable fourth of 11 in handicap hurdle at Aintree (20f, good) 105 days ago, barely adequate test. Absent since and probably best watched starting out for new yard back in this sphere.

Form: 233/087-

(8)

Justified⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: D C Costello| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 68

8/1

Latest win at Ripon in August. 7/2, fourth of 5 in handicap at Bath (14f, good to firm) 9 days ago, merely closing up late. Remains on a feasible mark and should make his presence felt.

Form: 444314

(3)

Socially Shady^p¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 66

15/2

Only ninth of 11 in handicap at Nottingham (14f, good to soft, 12/1) 17 days ago, but he'll be a danger to all if on a going day.

Form: 842739

(1)

Contrebasse^v²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Ella McCain⁽⁵⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 62| D

13/2

Fifteen runs since last win in 2019. 6/1, respectable 5 lengths sixth of 10 to Justified in handicap at Ripon (14f, good to firm) 25 days ago. Edging back down the weights and he enters calculations.

Form: 252646

(6)

Nataleena²²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Harrison Shaw| T: B Haslam| OR: 59| D

14/1

12/1, creditable fourth of 9 in handicap at Redcar (14f, good) 22 days ago. Eased another 1 lb and she's not without hope back up in trip in what looks an open race,

Form: 885254

Forecasts

Steel An Icon (3/1), Stonific (4/1), Billy No Mates (6/1), Contrebasse (13/2), Socially Shady (15/2), Toronto (8/1), Justified (8/1), Nataleena (14/1), River Icon (50/1)

The vote in this open-looking handicap goes to TORONTO, who is untried beyond 1¾m but has shaped as though more than ready for a stiffer test the last twice and has dipped to a career-low mark. Socially Shady clearly has two ways of running, but he will be a threat if on-song, while Contrebasse and Nataleena are others to consider.