15:42 Thirsk

Saturday 20 May 2023

All13:5714:3215:0715:4216:1716:5217:2517:58

Sky Bet Prize Drop Handicap

Off time: 15:43 | Winning time: 1m 11.45s

(5)

Justanotherbottle^b²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-9| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 95| D

25/1

Admirable sprinter over the years but below par on both outings this year. Bounce back needed.

Form: 0250-69

(6)

Lord Of The Lodge⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: S H James| T: K R Burke| OR: 93| D

7/1

Smart AW performer but last year's turf efforts were disappointing. Has a reduced mark to work with in this sphere but others have less to prove.

Form: 413724

(3)

Tinto²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR: 89| CD

9/2

Won this 12 months ago. Better effort at Doncaster this term when fifth of 8 last time. Only 2 lb higher than last year and could go well for a yard which was slow to get going this year but is really firing now.

Form: 5804-05

(11)

Mojomaker^p²⁶⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Laura Pearson⁽³⁾| T: D Loughnane| OR: 87

16/1

Twelve runs since last win in 2021, although he was runner-up 3 times on turf last year. Off since a lesser run on AW in August.

Form: 284220-

(1)

Emperor Spirit^p,t⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: P Hanagan| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 87| D

16/1

Tongue strap on first time, just second outing for this yard when winning on AW at Lingfield (6f) 43 days ago, although he enjoyed the run of the race from the front. Up 2 lb.

Form: 46-4371

(10)

Rathbone²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: Jason Hart| T: M Herrington| OR: 84| CD

4/1

Won this race in 2021 (for Kevin Ryan). Promise at second time of asking for new yard when third (Tinto fifth) of 8 in handicap at Doncaster (6f, soft) 21 days ago. Shortlist material.

Form: 5905-73

(7)

Aberama Gold^v¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: B A Curtis| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 84| BF| D

13/2

Respectable second of 8 in handicap at Doncaster (6f, heavy, 9/4) 14 days ago. Can make presence felt.

Form: 35-2052

(9)

Music Society⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-11| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 83| D

11/1

Successful at Catterick in October. Better effort this term when respectable second of 7 in handicap at this C&D (heavy, 9/1) 9 days ago.

Form: 6731-02

(2)

Hiya Maite^t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: S R Bowring| OR: 83| D

5/1

Career best when winning 10-runner handicap (5/1) at Wetherby (5.5f, good to soft) 20 days ago, making all. Raised 6 lb but he's still relatively unexposed for a sprinter.

Form: 312-531

(4)

Bay Breeze¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Cam Hardie| T: T D Easterby| OR: 82| D

16/1

Won at Ripon (6f, soft) last month. Creditable second of 13 over this C&D (heavy) since. Another who can't be discounted.

Form: 429-912

(8)

Mattice^p²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 79| D

11/1

15/2, stepped up on reappearance when sixth of 15 in handicap at Musselburgh (5f, soft) 20 days ago, racing closer to pace than ideal. Looks to be working his way back to form.

Form: 2435-66

Forecasts

Rathbone (4/1), Tinto (9/2), Hiya Maite (5/1), Aberama Gold (13/2), Lord Of The Lodge (7/1), Music Society (11/1), Mattice (11/1), Bay Breeze (16/1), Mojomaker (16/1), Emperor Spirit (16/1), Justanotherbottle (25/1)

RATHBONE shaped well for new trainer Michael Herrington when third at Doncaster last time and might be able to add to his 2021 success in this race. Aberama Gold is another who arrives on the back of a decent run at Doncaster and is second choice ahead of Tinto, another former winner of this race.