17:20 York

Thursday 18 May 2023

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

Collective Green Energy Handicap

Off time: 17:22 | Winning time: 2m 29.0s

(4)

Chesspiece²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: R L Moore| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 96

3/1

Has an appealing middle-distance pedigree and overcame greenness to make a successful start at Newcastle in November. Third in 5-runner Newbury novice (1¼m, heavy) won by leading Derby candidate Military Order on return at Newbury and improvement likely now upped in trip for this handicap debut.

Form: 1-3

(12)

Knockbrex¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: C Johnston| OR: 90

5/1

Left debut form well behind when readily seeing off subsequent winners Perfuse and Crystal Mariner in a Pontefract maiden (1¼m, heavy) last month. Found just one too good upped to 11.6f under very different condition (good to firm) at Haydock since and may well improve now pitched into a handicap.

Form: 812

(9)

Tabaretta¹⁰⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 90| D

7/1

Gelded prior to opening his account at Wolverhampton (8.6f) during the autum and doubled his tally upped to this trip at the same course when last seen in January. 5 lb rise fair enough and showed promise on turf at 2 yrs, so he needs considering for his powerful connections.

Form: 2412-31

(2)

Torre Del Oro⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 87| D

13/2

Hooded when fifth of 9 in the Goodwood novice won by Rathgar on debut in October. Has subsequently improved on the AW (without headgear), cosily scoring on his handicap bow at Wolverhampton (12.2f) last time, and he merits respect, for all that he's now 10 lb higher in a tougher race.

Form: 544-1

(10)

High Honour^p,t¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: J P Spencer| T: C Appleby| OR: 87

25/1

Expensive purchase who got off the mark at the second attempt in a Goodwood maiden (1m, good to soft) last year. Left the impression that moving up to this trip would help when third at Newmarket (1¼m, soft) recently but William Buick prefers Tabaretta and, in any case, others make more appeal.

Form: 513-83

(11)

Land Legend⁶⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: J Ferguson| OR: 87

8/1

Improved on previous efforts when runner-up in a 1m Southwell novice in January (gelded after) and went one better in good style upped to 1¼m for his handicap debut at Newcastle in March. Hit with an 11 lb rise but good chance that there's more to come now that he takes another step up in trip.

Form: 90-21

(6)

Baltic Voyage²¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: L Dettori| T: R M Beckett| OR: 84

5/1

Frankel colt who stepped up markedly on his debut effort when lengths fourth in the 17-runner Convivial maiden at the Ebor meeting here last August. However, failed to build on that both subsequent starts, including upped to 1¼m at Newmarket on final 2-y-o start (gelded since).

Form: 0444-

(7)

Hope You Can Run^p1²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: R Kingscote| T: C Johnston| OR: 84

33/1

Landed the odds in a 3-runner Doncaster nursery last August and perhaps found conditions too testing when fifth on return upped to 10.2f at that course (heavy) last month. Still, he arguably lacks the scope of some of these, including stablemate Knockbrex. Cheekpieces applied.

Form: 26213-5

(8)

Rathgar¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Connor Beasley| T: J Channon| OR: 83| BF

15/2

Progressed from run to run at 2 yrs, off the mark at third attempt in a Goodwood novice in October. Positive start to this season when hitting the crossbar on handicap debut at Newmarket (1¼m, soft) recently and he's another that will likely benefit from this stiffer test back on better ground.

Form: 631-2

(3)

Latin Verse^b1³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: David Egan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 80| D

50/1

Opened his account at the third attempt in 5-runner Lingfield maiden (1½m, AW) in February but was well held on subsequent handicap/turf debut at Nottingham (10.2f, heavy). Possible that the faster surface/blinkers here will help see him in a better light but looks vulnerable all the same.

Form: 5215

(5)

Great Bedwyn²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Hollie Doyle| T: R Hannon| OR: 79

40/1

Made it third time lucky when accounting for 5 rivals in a 1¼m Newcastle maiden in March. Down the field on handicap debut next time at Newmarket where he didn't appear to handle the track and may well get back on track here.

Form: 0-317

Non-Runners

(1)

Roll It In Glitter²

Weight: 8-4| Age: 3

T: M & D Easterby J: Joanna Mason

Forecasts

Chesspiece (3/1), Knockbrex (5/1), Baltic Voyage (5/1), Torre Del Oro (13/2), Tabaretta (7/1), Rathgar (15/2), Land Legend (8/1), Roll It In Glitter (12/1), High Honour (25/1), Hope You Can Run (33/1), Great Bedwyn (40/1), Latin Verse (50/1)

Several promising types on show here and LAND LEGEND could be the pick of them. He quickened away from his rivals in the manner of a sharp improver at Newcastle and, provided he takes to turf at the first attempt, this 11 lb higher mark may prove within reach given the potential he seemingly possesses. The unexposed Knockbrex is next on the list ahead of Rathgar, who possibly found conditions too testing on his reappearance. Tabaretta and Torre del Oro also enter calculations.