13:50 York

Thursday 12 May 2022

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

Paddy Power 'Making Flat Less Flat' Handicap

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 58.83s

(9)

Good Effort^p²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: S M Levey| T: I Mohammed & J Santos| OR: 105| D

16/1

Smart sprinter who scored at Lingfield in November. Got back on track when sixth of 14 in conditions event at Newcastle (6f) 27 days ago, so he's no forlorn hope.

Form: 1-33206

(7)

Copper Knight^t²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 104| CD

8/1

Likeable sprinter who bids for a hat-trick of wins in this contest. Teed himself up for this when fading seventh of 11 in 5f handicap at Musselburgh on his return, so he's high on the shortlist.

Form: 20201-7

(11)

Raasel^h¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: James Doyle| T: M Appleby| OR: 101| D

5/1

Progressive sort who made it a remarkable 6 wins from his last 7 runs in 5f handicap at Goodwood 13 days ago. Up another 7 lb but he's still not taken lightly.

Form: 1111-51

(1)

Bedford Flyer¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: J L Eyre| OR: 100| CD

11/1

C&D winner who wasn't seen to best effect when seventh of 8 in handicap at Ripon (5f) 19 days ago, rearing start and also hampered. No surprise to see him bounce back.

Form: 1020-27

(8)

Mountain Peak²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Tom Marquand| T: E Walker| OR: 99| D

25/1

Resumed from 7 months off with good second of 7 in handicap at Newbury (5.2f) 25 days ago. Useful winner at his best, but he needs to back it up now.

Form: 51009-2

(6)

Jawwaal²²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods| OR: 98| BF| D

14/1

Dual 5f scorer at Doncaster last summer. Didn't enjoy the rub of the green when sixth at Haydock (5f) final run when stumbling start, so he's well worth a second look on his return off a handy mark.

Form: 115446-

(3)

Alligator Alley⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 95| CD

6/1

C&D winner for Joseph O'Brien in 2019. Had wind op and gelded before posting encouraging third in 5f conditions event (20/1) at Wolverhampton 54 days ago on his first start for 18 months. Interesting.

Form: 82003/3

(4)

Digital²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 95| BF| D

4/1

Posted useful effort when landing 5f handicap at Southwell in February and backed it up with solid Newbury third 25 days ago. Needs considering.

Form: 120-313

(10)

Zargun¹⁸⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: Jonathan Fisher⁽⁵⁾| T: S Dixon| OR: 95| D

20/1

Got off the mark for current yard in 5f Catterick handicap last October but he failed to back it up in three subsequent outings. He needs to get back on track on his seasonal return.

Form: 021070-

(13)

Ready Freddie Go^p¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: J P Sullivan| T: Ollie Pears| OR: 91| D

33/1

Enjoyed a profitable 2021, and he took his form up another notch when landing 5f handicap at Thirsk 12 days ago. He should go well again despite being hit with a 5 lb rise.

Form: 1550-01

(12)

Strong Power⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-5| J: K T O'Neill| T: Alice Haynes| OR: 87| D

14/1

Much improved and already a three-time 5f winner at Lingfield in 2022. Posted another solid effort there when third 13 days ago. Has his first run on turf for current yard and merits serious consideration off a reduced mark.

Form: 111343

(2)

Fine Wine^b⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: Jack Duern⁽³⁾| T: S Dixon| OR: 86| D

5/1

Bagged a brace of 5f Southwell handicap wins this spring and he has remained in good form on turf since, second of 14 at Hamilton (5f) 4 days ago. In the mix once more.

Form: 112352

(5)

Mejthaam²²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: S De Sousa| T: N Tinkler| OR: 84| D

28/1

Dual 5f/6f scorer in first half of 2021 for Charlie Hills but off the track after coming in only eighth at Chelmsford City in September. She's no forlorn hope on her seasonal return, however.

Form: 143318-

Forecasts

Digital (4/1), Fine Wine (5/1), Raasel (5/1), Alligator Alley (6/1), Copper Knight (8/1), Bedford Flyer (11/1), Strong Power (14/1), Jawwaal (14/1), Good Effort (16/1), Zargun (20/1), Mountain Peak (25/1), Mejthaam (28/1), Ready Freddie Go (33/1)

STRONG POWER has been transformed since joining Alice Haynes, scoring three times on the AW, and can race off a much lower turf mark here so is worth siding with at the forecast odds. Alligator Alley made a promisng start for David O'Meara at Wolverhampton and heads the list of dangers, although the handily-weighted Jawwal and 2019 and 2021 winner Copper Knight seem sure to have a say too in a very open sprint.