15:10 Thirsk

Saturday 22 April 2023

All12:5513:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:1516:50

Vickers.Bet EBF Michael Foster Conditions Stakes

Off time: 15:11 | Winning time: 1m 31.32s

(2)

Escobar^t¹⁸⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-8| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 107| D

10/1

Better than ever at the age of 8 when bagging the Challenge Cup over 7f at Ascot (good to soft) in October. Below his best when mid-field back there under a penalty in the Balmoral a fortnight later but won first time up last season so is high on the shortlist.

Form: 233810-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(1)

Mount Athos²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: J Tate| OR: 103| CD

13/8

C&D winner who completed an easy hat-trick on return from 5 months off in 8-runner handicap at Kempton (7f, 8/11) 24 days ago, having the run of the race. Destined for better things so should make a bold bid for the 4-timer.

Form: 2411-1

(6)

Snazzy Jazzy²⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: Sean Kirrane⁽³⁾| T: L A Mullaney| OR: 97| BF

25/1

Did well to get as close as he did under the circumstances when sixth of 10 in handicap at Hamilton (6f, good to firm, well-backed 9/4), very slowly away. Returns from 9 months off but others make more appeal.

Form: 60/4176-

(4)

Albasheer⁵⁸²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson| OR: 103| D

4/1

Debut 7f winner at Doncaster in 2020 who shaped well after 11 months off when runner-up in conditions event at Salisbury (6f) in August 2021. Finished down the field in a listed event a month later but not seen since and has switched yards for 130,000 gns. Watch betting.

Form: 12629/

(7)

Azano¹³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 93| D

28/1

Proved more miss than hit since last summer well-beaten fourth in handicap at Chelmsford City (8f) when last seen in December. Yard look to have stronger claims with Escobar.

Form: 386054-

(5)

Spycatcher³⁰¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin⁽³⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 106

7/2

Disappointing on both outings since finishing runner-up in Group 2 at York last May, the cheekpieces failing to do the trick when 12¾ lengths tenth of 11 to Sense of Duty in Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle (6f, 7/2) 10 months ago. Serious chance in this if ready to roll.

Form: 3/13270-

(3)

Symbolize¹⁸⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: G Lee| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 99| CD

5/1

C&D winner. Cheekpieces on for 1st time, seventeenth of 20 in Balmoral handicap (20/1) at Ascot (8f, good to soft) 6 months ago. First run for yard after leaving Andrew Balding (55,000 gns) and market should prove informative.

Form: 202600-

Forecasts

Mount Athos (13/8), Spycatcher (7/2), Albasheer (4/1), Symbolize (5/1), Escobar (10/1), Snazzy Jazzy (25/1), Azano (28/1)

MOUNT ATHOS is a colt firmly on the up and, with the advantage of race fitness over his rivals, James Tate's 4-y-o gets the verdict to complete an impressive 4-timer. Escobar isn't getting any younger, but he's a very smart handicapper so he could be the one to give the selection most to think about, ahead of Spycatcher and stable-switcher Albasheer.