13:50 York

Thursday 18 May 2023

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

Lindum York Handicap

Off time: 13:51 | Winning time: 56.64s

(9)

Mountain Peak²⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: Oisin Murphy| T: E Walker| OR: 104| D

40/1

Found only one too good on last season's reappearance and very useful form when making all in a big-field handicap at Ascot in July. Mixed bag after, but just 2 lb above that successful mark and Oisin Murphy is booked for this return to action.

Form: 218038-

(7)

Clarendon House²⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 102| D

6/1

Progressive 4-time winner as a 3-y-o who was highly tried on the back of success in small field conditions' event at Beverley (5f) last summer. Solid second back at that venue when last seen in September and record fresh is encouraging.

Form: 615602-

(3)

Regional^t²²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: E Bethell| OR: 100| D

5/1

Lightly raced for a 5-y-o and while he didn't taste success last year, he shaped well on occasions, notably when third in the Stewards' Cup at Goodwood in July. Ended 2022 in slightly disappointing fashion but returns with yard among the winners.

Form: 262305-

(8)

Korker¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 100| CD

13/2

Prone to slow starts but a classy sprinter when it all clicks, winning good 5f 3-y-o handicap impressively at this meeting a year ago. Looked rusty on reappearance pitched into a Group 3 and this will reveal a lot more back in handicap company.

Form: 03827-0

(2)

Alligator Alley^t⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 100| CD

12/1

Completed AW hat-trick at Southwell in January. Unable to continue the excellent work since, albeit 6f in a warm race at Newcastle easy to excuse.

Form: 1-14430

(12)

Mondammej^h¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 97| D

14/1

Losing run dates back to 2021 but he's back on his last successful mark and last month's keeping-on fifth at Ripon will have blown away the cobwebs.

Form: 62000-5

(10)

Bedford Flyer^p⁹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: M Appleby| OR: 97| CD

25/1

Blitzed his rivals returned to the AW at Southwell in November and posted another cracking effort when second at Wolverhampton a month later. Unable to continue the good work after and has left Les Eyre.

Form: 7612-76

(13)

Designer²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: David Egan| T: J Butler| OR: 97| CD

10/3

Developed into a useful sprinter during the second half of 2022, landing a C&D handicap in August. Sound reappearance in listed company at Bath and she finished runner-up from this mark last handicap outing.

Form: 06152-4

(14)

Whenthedealinsdone^p¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: W Buick| T: R A Teal| OR: 96| D

12/1

Bounced right back to his best when landing 10-runner Ascot handicap (5f) in September. Respectable efforts on 2 of his 3 starts to end the campaign and his reappearance at Goodwood was encouraging. Could do with starting on terms at this speed-favouring track, though.

Form: 21043-4

(5)

Nomadic Empire^v¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 92| C| D

18/1

Course winner who had a winter spell in Bahrain, scoring in December. Unable to land a blow at Ripon 3 weeks ago and visor replaces cheekpieces.

Form: 713-407

(6)

Lord Riddiford⁸⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 8-9| J: Hollie Doyle| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 90| D

33/1

Landed the same Goodwood handicap for the second time in July. Several sound efforts since (albeit Newcastle one when last seen in February wasn't one of them) and he's inching back towards that successful mark.

Form: 234-438

(4)

Illusionist¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: S H James| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 90| CD

10/1

Right back to form when springing a 33/1 surprise over C&D at this meeting a year ago. Restricted to just 2 races since, hitting the frame on each occasion. Likely to give it another good go.

Form: 106/14-3

(1)

Copper Knight^t¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 8-7| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 88| CD

14/1

Veteran sprinter who has been a fine servant for connections, winning 6 times over this C&D, including this race in 2019 and 2021. Should be spot on fitness-wise and he's back down to a tempting mark these days.

Form: 0770-46

Non-Runners

(11)

Ghathanfar¹

Weight: 8-4| Age: 7

T: Miss Tracy Waggott J: J P Sullivan

Forecasts

Designer (10/3), Regional (5/1), Clarendon House (6/1), Korker (13/2), Illusionist (10/1), Alligator Alley (12/1), Whenthedealinsdone (12/1), Mondammej (14/1), Copper Knight (14/1), Nomadic Empire (18/1), Ghathanfar (20/1), Bedford Flyer (25/1), Lord Riddiford (33/1), Mountain Peak (40/1)

This looks wide-open with DESIGNER just about the most persuasive option having finished runner-up from this mark on her final start last year and last month's reappearance in listed company will have served a purpose. Whenthedealinsdone is well handicapped but he can miss the break, which is a major concern at this track, so Mountain Peak is feared most on his return to action.