17:25 York

Friday 8 October 2021

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

IRE Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Handicap

Off time: 17:29 | Winning time: 1m 28.5s

(12)

Troubador^b²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: T Eaves| T: M Dods| OR: 80| C

33/1

Wasn't disgraced in first-time blinkers when sixth of 16 at Ripon (6f) on penultimate start, but failed to back that up next time and he hasn't won a race for well over 2 years.

Form: 046060

(13)

Safran¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: M Harley| T: D O'Meara| OR: 80| D

14/1

Dual winner in France and posted one of his better efforts on this side of the Channel when fifth in a 12-runner C&D handicap a fortnight ago. Now 2 lb lower and he has to enter calculations.

Form: 483345

(3)

Oso Rapido¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Rowan Scott| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 80| D

16/1

Off the mark for this yard at Musselburgh in August and produced a career-best when adding a 6f Pontefract handicap to his tally 15 days ago. 3 lb rise fair and he's in with a shout.

Form: 831421

(2)

Ugo Gregory^p,t¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: T D Easterby| OR: 80| D

9/1

Notched third success of what has been a productive campaign when seeing off 10 rivals at Beverley (7.4f) last month. Nudged up just 2 lb and likely to be in the thick of things once again.

Form: 128431

(9)

Ava Go Joe^p⁹^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 76

8/1

Deservedly got his head back in front when landing a 15-runner Nottingham handicap (6f) recently. More will be needed under a penalty here, but step up to 7f is plausible and he's not discounted.

Form: 226621

(4)

Admirality²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Mark Crehan⁽³⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 79| BF| D

10/1

Has dipped to a potentially handy mark and has acquitted himself well on several occasions this season, not least when fourth of 9 at Ayr last time. However, his losing sequence now stands at 28.

Form: 926954

(1)

Mossbawn¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Connor Beasley| T: T D Barron| OR: 79| D

11/2

Back-to-back winner of 7f Thirsk handicaps prior to finishing a respectable fourth when bidding for the hat-trick at Chester. Each-way chance off the same mark.

Form: 3-62114

(14)

Ebury²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: L Morris| T: S Dixon| OR: 79

20/1

Has twice acquitted himself well here this season, and off higher marks than this. Conversely, his latest effort at Doncaster was poor and others make more appeal on balance.

Form: 820968

(20)

Parallel World^p¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin⁽³⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 78| D

150/1

Three-time winner on the AW, but hasn't made much of an impact in his 4 starts on turf, including when trailing in last of 12 back from a 5-month absence at Ayr 10 days ago.

Form: 130400

(17)

Tashgheel⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: S H James| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 80| BF

40/1

Listowel maiden winner on final start for Dermot Weld in June, but has come up short both starts since joining present connections and he's probably worth taking on.

Form: 47-0184

(19)

Swiss Ace¹⁰⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Joanna Mason⁽³⁾| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 79

80/1

Looked potentially useful when making a winning debut for Aidan O'Brien last June, but it's pretty much downhill all the way since. Gelded ahead of this debut for new connections.

Form: 50-5500

(7)

Strongbowe^p¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Phil Dennis| T: T D Easterby| OR: 77| D

16/1

Did the job well at Thirsk in June and just touched off at Redcar on penultimate start. Excuses at Chester since and while his habitual slow starts are a growing cause for concern, he merits respect.

Form: 498525

(8)

Shawaamekh^t¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Harrison Shaw| T: D Carroll| OR: 77| CD

11/1

Underwent a wind op following 2020 campaign and has posted more good efforts than bad ones this time round. Should give another good account, albeit without being quite good enough.

Form: 304346

(11)

Abbey Heights¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: P J McDonald| T: D & C Kubler| OR: 79

15/2

Off the mark at the third attempt with a cosy all-the-way success in 6f Newcastle novice a fortnight ago. Mark for this handicap debut looks fair and this unexposed 3-y-o has to enter calculations.

Form: 321

(15)

Tommy Taylor^v⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Oliver Stammers⁽⁵⁾| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 77| CD

14/1

Has performed with credit in 3 runs since joining Grant Tuer. Hard to ignore the fact that this 7-y-o has got his head in front just twice from 50 starts, though both wins were here. Visor refitted.

Form: 030264

(18)

Daniel Deronda²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 76| D

12/1

Leicester winner in July and was narrowly outpointed by Mossbawn at Thirsk on penultimate start. Shaped as if still in good form when sixth at Ayr last time and should make his presence felt.

Form: 513026

(6)

Separate^p1²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: S M Levey| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 76| D

10/1

Dual winner at 2 yrs for Richard Hannon and posted just about her best effort for this yard when third over a mile off 1 lb higher at Musselburgh last month. Place possibilities.

Form: 360673

(16)

Red Genesis^b1³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: J Ferguson| OR: 78

66/1

Placed twice in novice company prior to a disappointing effort in first-time cheekpieces in a Carlisle maiden last time. Blinkers now tried for this handicap debut.

Form: 6237

(10)

Zumurud^p²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: D C Costello| T: M Walford| OR: 76| BF| D

25/1

Numerous solid efforts in defeat subsequent to his Catterick success in May, third in big-field handicaps on both visits here during the current campaign. Still, he looks vulnerable for win purposes.

Form: 332262

(5)

Outrun The Storm²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 77| CD

18/1

Strong at the finish when bagging an 11-runner C&D handicap in July. Good third back here next time, but form took a turn for the worse at Ayr subsequently and others make greater appeal.

Form: 35-4130

Forecasts

Mossbawn (11/2), Abbey Heights (15/2), Ava Go Joe (8/1), Ugo Gregory (9/1), Admirality (10/1), Separate (10/1), Shawaamekh (11/1), Daniel Deronda (12/1), Tommy Taylor (14/1), Safran (14/1), Oso Rapido (16/1), Strongbowe (16/1), Outrun The Storm (18/1), Ebury (20/1), Zumurud (25/1), Troubador (33/1), Tashgheel (40/1), Red Genesis (66/1), Swiss Ace (80/1), Parallel World (150/1)

STRONGBOWE's propensity to miss the kick means that there are risks attached, but he's very capable when things drop right and the 5-y-o is worth chancing in this wide-open handicap. Safran wasn't beaten far over C&D a couple of weeks ago and he is one of several viable alternatives, along with recent winners Ugo Gregory and Oso Rapido, while the unexposed Abbey Heights also needs considering.