14:05 York

Friday 14 July 2023

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2516:5517:30

William Hill Epic Value Handicap

Off time: 14:06 | Winning time: 1m 23.42s

(6)

Vafortino²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Rossa Ryan| T: K P De Foy| OR: 102| D

7/2

Landed Victoria Cup in 2022 and ran well to be placed in latest renewal of that corresponding event. Met trouble on more than one occasion when tenth of 29 in Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot last time and remains of interest.

Form: 01-3230

(1)

Bopedro^v²²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 100| D

11/2

Irish Cambridgeshire winner in 2021 who struck in 1m Newmarket handicap in April. Good efforts last 3 starts but others preferred for win purposes kept to 7f.

Form: 817626

(8)

Northern Express²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods| OR: 99| CD

5/2

Consistent sort who confirmed the encouragement of his reappearance when landing the Thirsk Hunt Cup in May, always doing enough. Excellent efforts when placed both starts since, including in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot last time, and highly likely to go well again.

Form: 76-5133

(3)

Documenting²²

Age: 10| Weight: 9-6| J: D Nolan| T: K Frost| OR: 99| CD

20/1

Veteran who won twice in 2022 and nothing wrong with first 2 runs this spring but failed to repeat those efforts when well held in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot last time. Others preferred.

Form: 518-530

(5)

Gweedore⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: William Pyle⁽⁷⁾| T: K Scott| OR: 96| D

9/1

Won 3 times in 2022 and well prepared to make a winning return at Musselburgh in April. Bounced back from a couple of low-key efforts when narrowly outpointed over C&D in June but wasn't in the same form at Haydock last week. 7-lb claimer now takes over in the saddle.

Form: 129026

(7)

Zip^v¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: O J Orr| T: R A Fahey| OR: 92| D

16/1

Scored at Southwell under a well-judged ride in February and wasted no time getting back to form when finding only one too good at Newcastle (7.1f) 13 days ago, suited by strong pace under a change of tactics. Not far away with a repeat.

Form: 161302

(4)

Another Investment²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: A J Farragher⁽³⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 90| CD

9/2

Took a big jump forward when winning 16-runner handicap over C&D (good to firm) 28 days ago, quickening to lead 2f out and pushed out. Hiked up 11 lb but there seemed to be no fluke about the performance.

Form: 408351

(2)

Able Kane^b,t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: B A Curtis| T: B R Millman| OR: 90| D

11/1

Bounced back to his best from an easing mark in a refitted tongue strap/blinkers when winning 6-runner handicap at Newmarket (7f, good) 15 days ago, dictating. Nudged up 5 lb and strong possibility he won't get things all his own way on the front end here.

Form: 0-04491

Forecasts

Northern Express (5/2), Vafortino (7/2), Another Investment (9/2), Bopedro (11/2), Gweedore (9/1), Able Kane (11/1), Zip (16/1), Documenting (20/1)

VAFORTINO wasn't seen to best effect in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot having met trouble on more than one occasion, so he could be up to reversing the form with Northern Express, who admittedly has a very likeable profile himself. There appeared to be no fluke about Another Investment's wide-margin C&D win 4 weeks ago and he's another to take seriously.