13:50 York

Friday 16 June 2023

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:21

Andy Thornton Hospitality Furniture Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 2m 11.37s

(2)

Jean Baptiste^p³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Jonny Peate| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 79| D

5/1

Back-to-back winner at around 10f last season ran a cracker from the front when third in a C&D handicap in October. Steadily gaining full fitness in trio of starts so far this spring and the handicapper has given him a chance ahead of this.

Form: 633-759

(5)

Westernesse²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Mark Winn⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 79

9/4

Fairly useful maiden in Ireland who ran just about his best race yet for new connections (solid form) when landing 11-runner handicap at Pontefract (1m) 3 weeks ago. Unexposed at this trip and he's well worthy of interest here.

Form: 223-231

(10)

Pledge Of Honour¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-13| J: Harry Davies| T: D K Ivory| OR: 78| D

5/1

Proved resurgent last term, gaining fourth handicap success at Doncaster in August. Shaped as if needing return at Newbury and duly stepped up to finish second at first-named venue (10.2f) earlier this month. Should go well again with Harry Davies an eye-catching booking.

Form: 2114-02

(3)

Solanna^t²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Jonathan Fisher⁽³⁾| T: J Butler| OR: 75| D

11/1

Likeable type who resumed winning ways at Yarmouth (10f) in May and followed up at Lingfield (10f) 7 days later. Ran a cracker in far deeper race at Newbury 4 weeks ago and easy to envisage him being in the mix with a tongue tie refitted on.

Form: 353114

(4)

Highwaygrey¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: Sean Kirrane| T: T D Easterby| OR: 75| D

6/1

Returned with a solid third at Haydock (10f) in April, travelling better than most and not knocked about. Dispelled a lesser effort when midfield in 9-runner Redcar handicap (10f) 18 days ago but others make more appeal for win purposes on balance.

Form: 530-385

(9)

Menelaus^v1¹¹^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Connor Planas⁽³⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 67

15/2

Relatively low-mileage sort who bumped into a well-handicapped sort on penultimate start and, strong in betting, went one place better at Thirsk (1m) 11 days ago, edging ahead close home. Claims back up in trip/under a penalty with a visor now reached for.

Form: 076-821

(8)

Showmedemoney^t²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: William Pyle⁽⁵⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 71| D

14/1

Back to winning ways at Newcastle (1m) in February and following a pair of creditable displays, he resumed winning ways at Ripon (9.7f) 26 days ago, having run of the race. This rates tougher but rider takes off handy 5 lb here.

Form: 159331

(1)

Poet's Dawn¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: Brandon Wilkie⁽⁷⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 71| C| D

14/1

Ended last term in good order, signing off with success at Nottingham (8.3f, heavy) in October. Comes here in good nick, running up to best turned out quickly when close-up third in 8-runner Ripon handicap (9.7f) 15 days ago. This trip possibly just stretches him, however.

Form: 1-40033

(6)

Dougies Dream²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Alex Jary⁽⁷⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 65

33/1

Justified good support when regaining winning thread in first-time cheekpieces at Newcastle (1m) in March. Proved his effectiveness at this trip when third back at that venue next time and best not judged on his run behind Showmedemoney in handicap at Ripon (9.8f) 26 days ago.

Form: 841037

Non-Runners

(7)

Aqwaam³³

Weight: 9-10| Age: 5

T: Ian Williams J: Callum Hutchinson

Forecasts

Westernesse (9/4), Pledge Of Honour (5/1), Jean Baptiste (5/1), Highwaygrey (6/1), Menelaus (15/2), Aqwaam (8/1), Solanna (11/1), Poet's Dawn (14/1), Showmedemoney (14/1), Dougies Dream (33/1)

WESTERNESSE produced just about his best effort yet when making his third start for David O'Meara a winning one at Pontefract 3 weeks ago and, with that form proving strong, he's fancied to make another bold bid with his rider's claim off-setting his rise in the weights. Thirsk-scorer Menelaus is a player back up in trip equipped with a visor and feared, with Jean Baptiste and Pledge of Honour also worth a look.