15:40 Thirsk

Saturday 6 May 2023

All13:3014:0014:3515:1015:4016:1516:55

Vickers.Bet Thirsk Hunt Cup Handicap

Off time: 15:41 | Winning time: 1m 43.06s

(10)

Cruyff Turn²¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 97| D

14/1

Landed a useful handicap at York off this mark in 2022 but it's possible he may just need the run on his return.

Form: 710609-

(1)

Safe Voyage³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 9-12| J: J P Sullivan| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 97| C| D

12/1

Course winner who ended last season with a fine fourth in the Balmoral Handicap at Ascot, but ran poorly in the Lincoln at Doncaster (8f, heavy) on his return 35 days ago, slowly away. Bit to prove.

Form: 86204-0

(8)

Symbolize¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: G Lee| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 97| C

8/1

Course winner who ran below form on first run since leaving Andrew Balding (sold 55,000 gns) when fourth of 7 in minor event (5/1) at this course (7f, heavy) 14 days ago. Needs to step up on that.

Form: 02600-4

(13)

Austrian Theory²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: F Norton| T: C Johnston| OR: 94| D

33/1

Landed a Hamilton handicap in June but form tailed off towards the end of last season and finished last of 5 in 1m handicap at Kempton on return.

Form: 13007-5

(12)

Eilean Dubh³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin⁽³⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 94| D

13/2

Fast improver in 2022, winning 4 times, including twice at York. Went backwards from reappearance well held in Lincoln at Doncaster but was possibly unsuited by testing conditions.

Form: 1101-90

(6)

Tuscan⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 93| C

18/1

Course winner who ran below form on first outing since leaving Charles Hills when ninth of 11 in 7f handicap at Haydock (7f, good to firm) last week. Eased 2 lb and should come good for his new yard at some stage.

Form: 20447-9

(2)

Northern Express²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: M Dods| OR: 92

11/2

Consistent sort who shaped well after 6 months off when fifth of 11 in handicap at Musselburgh (7.2f, good to soft) 28 days ago, faring best of those held up. Must enter the reckoning.

Form: 12476-5

(5)

Carnival Zain²¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Aiden Brookes⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 91| BF| CD

20/1

Improved plenty in 2022, winning 5 times. Ran below form at Ascot on final outing but could bounce back on this return to action.

Form: 411215-

(3)

Autumn Festival²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 91| D

20/1

Big improver in 2022, winning 7 times and probably needed the run after 6 months off when well held on his return at Musselburgh 4 weeks ago.

Form: 11111-0

(14)

Billyb¹⁹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: P Hanagan| T: Mrs A Duffield| OR: 88| D

9/1

Recorded a third success of 2022 in 9-runner handicap (6/1) at Southwell (8.1f) in October. Reappears from only a 3 lb higher mark so sure to be in the mix if fully tuned up for this return.

Form: 122471-

(15)

The Turpinator¹⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Oliver Stammers⁽³⁾| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 88| D

12/1

Ran respectably on first run since leaving Tom Ward when third of 9 in handicap at Newcastle (7.1f) in December. Off 155 days but is capable fresh so not ruled out.

Form: 109063-

(4)

Dark Moon Rising^p1¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: S A Gray| T: K A Ryan| OR: 85| D

14/1

Ran below form back on turf when seventh of 12 in handicap (28/1) at Pontefract (10f, good to soft) 12 days ago. Down in trip. Cheekpieces on for 1st time.

Form: 5580-07

(11)

Skilled Warrior²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: S H James| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 85| D

7/1

Proved at least as good as ever after 5 months off when winning 10-runner handicap at Newcastle (8f, 15/2) 23 days ago. Proven on turf so should remain competitive.

Form: 57235-1

(7)

Pisanello¹⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: Mark Winn⁽⁵⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 82| D

5/1

Twelve runs since last win in 2022 but shaped well when second of 13 in handicap at Newcastle (8f) on final outing, staying on well. Off 6 months but needs considering all the same.

Form: 333242-

(9)

Devilwala^p¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: Cam Hardie| T: T D Easterby| OR: 75| D

80/1

Won at Chester in second half of 2022 but down the field all 3 outings since, including on reappearance at Ripon (1m) 16 days ago.

Form: 72107-0

Forecasts

Pisanello (5/1), Northern Express (11/2), Eilean Dubh (13/2), Skilled Warrior (7/1), Symbolize (8/1), Billyb (9/1), Safe Voyage (12/1), The Turpinator (12/1), Cruyff Turn (14/1), Dark Moon Rising (14/1), Tuscan (18/1), Autumn Festival (20/1), Carnival Zain (20/1), Austrian Theory (33/1), Devilwala (80/1)

A competitive renewal of a valuable event. BILLYB is a likeable type who was steadily progressive last year and there's every chance he could still have more to offer this season, which marks him down as a more interesting contender than most. Northern Express fared best of those held up on his reappearance at Musselburgh and must enter calculations, along with Pisanello, who was a good third in this race 12 months ago and has a commendable record fresh.