15:50 York

Friday 7 October 2022

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

William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap (Heritage Handicap)

Off time: 15:52 | Winning time: 3m 4.52s

(5)

Dark Moon Rising^b1²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 96

66/1

Much improved when making a successful return to action at Chelmsford in March. Unable to build on that, for all he's been set a few stiff tasks along the way, and this just his second handicap outing fitted with blinkers for the first time. Up markedly in trip.

Form: 144558

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(10)

Aimeric²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: J Mitchell| T: R Varian| OR: 92

9/2

Maiden winner on third start and while he was brushed aside in the Melrose on handicap debut over C&D, he cranked it up a notch when landing 15-runner contest at Ayr 3 weeks ago. One to keep on the right side of.

Form: 24181

(12)

Adjuvant³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Dylan Hogan| T: M L W Bell| OR: 91

15/2

Dual 2-y-o winner who benefited from step up to 1½m when striking at Newmarket in July. Bettered that effort when third to the potentially smart Soulcombe upped to this trip at the Ebor meeting and this consistent type turned in another excellent effort at Haydock, held up in a steadily-run race.

Form: 341835

(1)

Nathanael Greene^p⁹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Cieren Fallon| T: W J Haggas| OR: 90| D

4/1

Put experience to good use when making a successful reappearance at Chepstow in April. Better form in handicaps since, relished increased emphasis on stamina coupled with first-time cheekpieces when successful at Haydock in July. Off since.

Form: 03-1421

(11)

The Gadget Man²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: H Crouch| T: R M Beckett| OR: 90| D

9/1

Improved for a step up to 2m when scoring by 4 lengths at Chester in August and displayed a really willing attitude when following up at Yarmouth. Up 3 lb in a deeper race but is clearly going the right way.

Form: 2-59311

(14)

Zain Nights^b1¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: D Tudhope| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 89

10/1

Showed good attitude to score over 1½m in first-time cheekpieces at Newbury in July and has performed at least respectably all 3 outings since. Arguably threw the race away when neck second to Double Cherry latest and more severe headgear now employed.

Form: 221932

(2)

Double Cherry¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: S M Levey| T: T Ward| OR: 88| D

6/1

Confirmed opening mark a lenient one when readily landing a Goodwood handicap in June and showed a cracking attitude when narrowly seeing off Zain Nights at Haydock a fortnight ago. Unexposed over this trip.

Form: 631641

(3)

Post Impressionist^p¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: A J Farragher⁽⁵⁾| T: W J Haggas| OR: 87

6/1

Ayr maiden winner on second start in April and perhaps unlucky not to get the better of Double Cherry and Zain Nights in a bunched finish at Haydock given he encountered a troubled passage. Has to be of interest.

Form: 120433

(9)

Neandra⁵⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Hayley Turner| T: A M Balding| OR: 84| BF

14/1

Made it 2 from 2 at Lingfield when drawing clear in good style in 6-runner handicap in July. Sent off a strong favourite over same C&D 3 weeks later but she was disappointing and now goes up in distance back on turf.

Form: 3-1318

(6)

Zimmerman^p⁶^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 76| D

18/1

Arrives in top form having landed a pair of handicaps around this trip at Catterick and Redcar. Carries 6 lb penalty for latter success and meets different calibre of rival here.

Form: 884711

(7)

Mostly Sunny²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Connor Beasley| T: H Main| OR: 79

28/1

Novice winner at Leicester in June but both efforts in handicaps since suggest his mark is too high.

Form: 33107

(8)

Pons Aelius²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 78| BF

25/1

Kept busy this year, gaining third win of the campaign at Newmarket in July and found only one too good for the sixth time over 2m at Kempton 3 weeks ago. Likely to give it a good go but lacks the scope of some.

Form: 212232

(13)

Flamborough¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: J F Egan| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 77

18/1

Left previous form well behind when runner-up at Kempton last month, pulling clear of the remainder. Ridden with restraint upped to 14f and stayed on gradually for fifth in a bunched finish at Haydock.

Form: 265-725

(4)

A La Francaise¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: Amie Waugh⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 71

33/1

Given a confident ride and duly shed maiden status at Hamilton (11f). Looks well worth a try over this trip but out of the weights in a much deeper race.

Form: 846431

Forecasts

Nathanael Greene (4/1), Aimeric (9/2), Post Impressionist (6/1), Double Cherry (6/1), Adjuvant (15/2), The Gadget Man (9/1), Zain Nights (10/1), Neandra (14/1), Flamborough (18/1), Zimmerman (18/1), Pons Aelius (25/1), Mostly Sunny (28/1), A La Francaise (33/1), Dark Moon Rising (66/1)

A valuable 3-y-o handicap featuring a plethora of upwardly-mobile stayers. AIMERIC was disappointing in the Melrose over C&D but got back on track in no uncertain terms when successful at Ayr 3 weeks ago and he looks the way to go. Nathanael Greene and Adjuvant head the opposition, with Post Impressionist perhaps the pick of the quartet who clashed at Haydock recently.