16:25 York

Saturday 27 May 2023

All13:3514:1014:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

Royal Yorkshire Regiment Handicap

Off time: 16:28 | Winning time: 1m 37.78s

(10)

Maximilian Caesar²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: M Botti| OR: 89| D

6/1

Had a solid juvenile campaign and relished the testing conditions to run out a wide-margin winner in handicap at Doncaster on return. 9 lb rise looks fair and won on fast ground as a 2-y-o, so should make another bold bid.

Form: 61322-1

(7)

Dubai Jemila³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 88

50/1

Expensive breeze-up acquisition who opened her account at the second time of asking in a novice at Ayr (7.2f) in August. Never landed a blow in the Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket before no show in Nell Gwyn there on return. Opening mark looks plenty high enough.

Form: 418-0

(2)

Sceptic²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Saffie Osborne| T: A M Balding| OR: 87

14/1

Promise when fourth of 13 in a backend Newmarket maiden and, having been gelded during the winter, improved when landing a 7f Lingfield maiden (AW) on return in March. Not disgraced in a warm class 2 at Goodwood since but opening mark demands more.

Form: 4-16

(9)

Saxon King²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Jim Crowley| T: C Hills| OR: 86| D

11/2

Put his experience to good use to open his account at the fourth attempt at Haydock (1m, heavy) and took his form to another level when making a winning return at Newmarket (soft) on handicap bow, again making all and beating a subsequent winner. High on shortlist.

Form: 8321-1

(4)

Quantum Impact²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 86| BF

10/3

Opened his account with something in hand at Pontefract in September. Much improved when following up on nursery debut at Newbury (6f, heavy) 5 weeks later and respectable return when fourth at Goodwood. Longer trip should suit and needs considering.

Form: 4211-4

(5)

Feel The Need¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 86

9/1

Fairly useful 7f juvenile winner who resumed after 7 months off/gelded with an excellent second of six in 7.5f Beverley handicap. However, didn't impress with head carriage when fourth at Haydock 2 weeks ago.

Form: 4179-24

(3)

Metahorse^v²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: O J Orr| T: M L W Bell| OR: 85

8/1

Recorded successive victories last July, winning 3-runner event on nursery debut at Thirsk (7f). In and out after, though latest second in this headgear at Doncaster was decent, albeit no match for Maximilian Caesar.

Form: 1038-62

(1)

Theme Park¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Rowan Scott| T: N Tinkler| OR: 85

5/1

Looked promising when winning 7f novice event at Kempton in September on his final run for Sir Michael Stoute. Changed hands for 200,000gns but disappointed when only fifth in 1m Redcar novice on return. However, much better when sixth on handicap bow here (7f) 10 days ago and longer trip will suit.

Form: 21-56

(8)

Spioradalta¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: D Allan| T: M Walford| OR: 79| D

9/1

Quickly got back on the up when winning 5-runner handicap at Nottingham (8.3f, heavy) 14 days ago, sticking to task. Respected up 3 lb.

Form: 22-3261

(6)

Reidh²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Cam Hardie| T: R A Fahey| OR: 78| BF

16/1

Fair form shown when in the frame in novices at Thirsk (7f) and Ayr (1m) last autumn and in a Pontefract maiden on return. Needs to improve now handicapping, however.

Form: 43-3

Forecasts

Quantum Impact (10/3), Theme Park (5/1), Saxon King (11/2), Maximilian Caesar (6/1), Metahorse (8/1), Feel The Need (9/1), Spioradalta (9/1), Sceptic (14/1), Reidh (16/1), Dubai Jemila (50/1)

MAXIMILIAN CAESAR powered clear in the style of a useful performer when a wide-margin winner at Doncaster on his return 3 weeks ago and can defy a 9 lb rise. The improving Saxon King is the obvious threat going for the hat-trick, while Quantum Impact should come on for his comeback run at Goodwood given his progress as a juvenile.