15:00 York

Friday 19 May 2023

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:15

Knights Solicitors Handicap

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 2m 8.06s

(11)

Masekela³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Rob Hornby| T: A M Balding| OR: 102

18/1

Listed winner at 2 who was an excellent fourth in the Derby last June. Signed off last season with good second in 10f Doncaster conditions event and probably needed the run on return at Newmarket (9f, soft) last month, not helped by refusing to settle. Makes handicap debut.

Form: 45942-6

(2)

Spirit Dancer²⁷²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: O J Orr| T: R A Fahey| OR: 97| CD

15/2

Took his form up a notch last season, building on his promising John Smith's Cup effort when scoring over C&D in July. Beaten only by a rapidly-improving 3-y-o a month later and he's one to consider provided he's ready to roll on return.

Form: 9/82412-

(9)

Stay Well^h²²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: R L Moore| T: H Morrison| OR: 96| D

12/1

Straightforward sort who recorded some good efforts in defeat last season and had an excuse (bled) for a lesser run on final start. Has a good record fresh and on a workable mark. One to consider with Ryan Moore booked.

Form: 1/22955-

(3)

Moktasaab¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Callum Shepherd| T: W J Knight| OR: 95| D

17/2

Hit the ground running for this yard last season, scoring at Goodwood and Newbury. Far from disgraced in better company after but attitude increasingly let him down and he promised more than he delivered on return at Newmarket (12f, soft) recently. Should come on from that.

Form: 03627-4

(6)

Marie's Diamond²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Jonny Peate⁽⁵⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 95

33/1

It's now 25 runs since his last win in 2021 and failed to really give his running back on British soil after 10 weeks off at Pontefract (10f, good to soft) last month. Best to look elsewhere.

Form: 64-6005

(1)

Diderot^h⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Ross Coakley| T: J Ferguson| OR: 92| D

22/1

Had shaped up well on his first 3 outings this year and found things panning out more or less ideally in a big-field affair when scoring at Lingfield (10f, AW) 6 weeks ago, getting a clear run at the leaders in the straight. Yet to prove himself on turf but arrives in form.

Form: 05-2321

(7)

Aramaic⁶⁰⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 92| BF| CD

5/1

Firmly on the up in 2021, notching impressive wins in 9f Musselburgh maiden and C&D handicap. Unable to complete the hat-trick in a stronger contest at Newbury (10f, good) when last seen 20 months ago but remains unexposed and is one to be interested in for a top yard despite the absence.

Form: 52114/

(10)

Majestic¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Ronan Whelan| T: J Channon| OR: 92

10/1

Won the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket on final 4-y-o start and made a solid return to action when fourth of 22 in the Lincoln at Doncaster. Not so good back at Newmarket (9f, soft) earlier this month so will need to bounce back.

Form: 2261-49

(4)

Marhaba The Champ²¹⁹

10/1

Showed further improvement to get off the mark in good style on handicap debut at Hamilton (9.2f, good) back in September but stopped quickly once asked for maximum effort at Nottingham 2 weeks later. Had a wind op but probably best to look elsewhere on reappearance.

Form: 5/4218-

(5)

Nobel^t1²⁰²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 90| DWS

7/2

Overcame a 10-month absence to make it 2-2 in conditions event at Epsom (10.1f) back in September but produced a tame effort upped in grade at Newmarket (10f, soft) a month later. Had a breathing op in the interim and he's one to look out for now tongue tied on handicap debut.

Form: 1/18-

(12)

Lightening Company²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: G Lee| T: B Haslam| OR: 88| D

12/1

Proved better than ever to come out on top after 5 months off at Pontefract (10f, good to soft) last month, proving himself at this trip in no uncertain terms. Up 6 lb in a stronger race and percentage call is to look elsewhere.

Form: 15349-1

(13)

Yorkshire Lady¹⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Joanna Mason| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 88| D

28/1

Progressed well at 3 and found further improvement when adding to her tally in determined style at Ayr (10f) in September. Not disgraced since, though never involved sporting first-time headgear in Winter Oaks Trial at Lingfield 5 months ago and will need a career best to take this.

Form: 041767-

(8)

Eeetee²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-5| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: D O'Meara| OR: 82| CD

15/2

Successful at Redcar and over C&D last season and having slipped in the weights, made a winning return with a bit up his sleeve at Haydock (10.2f, good to firm) just under 3 weeks ago. Nudged up 4 lb and every chance he will be involved again.

Form: 10457-1

Forecasts

Nobel (7/2), Aramaic (5/1), Spirit Dancer (15/2), Eeetee (15/2), Moktasaab (17/2), Marhaba The Champ (10/1), Majestic (10/1), Stay Well (12/1), Lightening Company (12/1), Masekela (18/1), Diderot (22/1), Yorkshire Lady (28/1), Marie's Diamond (33/1)

This is wide open and though he hasn't been seen for nearly 2 years, ARAMAIC can pick up from where he left off in 2021 and regain the winning thread for his top yard. Spirit Dancer took his form up a notch last season, so Richard Fahey's charge is fancied to give the selection most to think about, with Nobel and Eeetee another couple meriting consideration.