17:35 York

Saturday 23 July 2022

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

Sky Bet Paying Extra Places Handicap

Off time: 17:36 | Winning time: 1m 24.71s

(5)

Little Prayer^p¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: David Egan| T: R Spencer| OR: 79| D

10/1

Got his head back in front sporting first-time cheekpieces back from a break at Lingfield (7f, AW) last month. Wasn't in the same form at Newmarket recently, though, and possibly a shade too high in the weights for now.

Form: 223717

(7)

Bond Power²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: P Mulrennan| T: B Smart| OR: 78

5/1

Stepped up on reappearance run when third of six in handicap at Ripon (6f, good to firm) last month. Failed to match that form in first-time cheekpieces at Haydock since, but headgear swiftly dispensed with and this step up in trip looks a good move.

Form: 410-934

(2)

Bin Hayyan²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 77

8/1

Ayr maiden winner at 2 yrs and almost doubled his tally when going close after encountering traffic problems over 7.4f at Beverley last month. That effort is bookmarked by two rather low-key performances, though, and one or two of these look more solid.

Form: 413-026

(9)

Ey Up Its The Boss^p³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: D Nolan| T: T Coyle & K Wood| OR: 75| D

11/2

Raised his game when landing three 7f handicaps on the bounce in May/June. However, failed to shine when gunning the for the four-timer at Newcastle last time and he needs to bounce back.

Form: 321119

(6)

Monsieur Jumbo²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 74| D

13/2

Opened his account at Newcastle in March and ran to a similar level on his next 3 starts. Below par on his last two starts, but will be a danger to all off this revised mark if he puts his best foot forward here.

Form: 143377

(8)

Fourth Time Lucky²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: O J Orr| T: R A Fahey| OR: 73

6/1

Maiden who performed with credit in handicaps over this C&D and at Ayr won by Truely Aclaimed. Perhaps the fitting of cheekpieces (omitted here) was what caused him to misfire at Haydock last time and he's not without hope.

Form: 3-24536

(4)

Piastrella¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Faye McManoman⁽³⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 72| D

9/2

Good record at Beverley, both her wins at 2 yrs gained there. Lost little caste in defeat when chasing home an improver over a mile here recently and she's a big player off the same mark.

Form: 457832

(3)

Novak¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Billy Garritty| T: I Jardine| OR: 69| D

12/1

Capitalised on the drop to Class 6 company when regaining the winning thread at Redcar (7f, good) last month. However, not in the same form at Ayr subsequently and he's basically opposable.

Form: 23-3516

(1)

Variety Island^p⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Cam Hardie| T: S Whitaker| OR: 59

10/1

Sole success gained on the AW but he's fully effective on turf, as he demonstrated when finding just the one too good at Redcar (7f, good to firm) last weekend. Can be expected to give a good account.

Form: 380452

Forecasts

Piastrella (9/2), Bond Power (5/1), Ey Up Its The Boss (11/2), Fourth Time Lucky (6/1), Monsieur Jumbo (13/2), Bin Hayyan (8/1), Variety Island (10/1), Little Prayer (10/1), Novak (12/1)

VARIETY ISLAND surely would've finished closer granted better luck at Redcar and he could be the answer to this open-looking handicap. Next on the list is Piastrella, who bumped into an improver here 15 days ago and represents the yard responsible for the winner of this race in 2019. Bond Power is of interest now faced with a stiffer test and Monsieur Jumbo is dangerous to discount having slipped to an attractive mark.