15:10 York

Saturday 15 July 2023

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

John Smith's Cup Handicap (Heritage Handicap)

Off time: 15:13 | Winning time: 2m 9.18s

(9)

Certain Lad²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: George Bass⁽³⁾| T: J Channon| OR: 107| C| D

33/1

Just about a career best when landing the Group 3 Strensall Stakes at this venue over 8.8f in 2020. Missed all of the following year and pretty lightly raced since, failing to add to his tally. Like Cadillac, he can have his run in the Wolferton overlooked.

Form: 803-730

(2)

Pride Of America^t³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Frederick Larson⁽³⁾| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 106| D

18/1

Confirmed himself to be a smart front-running handicapper when making all on the back on another breathing operation at Chester in May. Yet again, he failed to fire in France last month and no easy task dominating this field.

Form: 8-14617

(4)

Sea The Casper²⁶^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 97| BF| D

9/2

Didn't race at 2 but hit the ground running last year, winning 3 of first 4 starts at up to 11f. Cranked it up another notch when an easy winner in a good time on AW reappearance 4 weeks ago and this upwardly-mobile 4-y-o is a danger to all under a penalty.

Form: 31922-1

(5)

White Wolf²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: P Hanagan| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 101

9/1

Gained both wins in novice company on the AW last year. Smart efforts in defeat a few times this season, shaping as though still in top form when seventh in the Duke of Edinburgh 3 weeks ago. Way he went through that race suggests this drop in trip won't be an issue.

Form: 209027

(16)

Sonny Liston^b²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: D Tudhope| T: R M Beckett| OR: 100

9/1

Useful 7f winner at his best for Charlie Hills. Ended 2022 out of sorts but excellent start for Ralph Beckett, fitted with blinkers and first home on his side of the track when second in the Royal Hunt Cup last month. Stays this far and a must for the shortlist from the same mark.

Form: 0379-92

(11)

Astro King²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: T Eaves| T: D & C Kubler| OR: 99

50/1

Found to be lame when a warm order for this in 2021. Ended time for Sir Michael Stoute in disappointing fashion but may well have won for new connections (gelded) in a 1m handicap here had the gaps opened in May. Disappointing in the Royal Hunt Cup and now back up in trip.

Form: 9460-40

(15)

Dawn Of Liberation²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Jason Watson| T: R Hannon| OR: 98

80/1

Low-mileage 4-y-o who won twice in novice company at up to 1m in 2022. Mixed bag in handicaps this year and has never really shaped as though in need of this far.

Form: 147-040

(20)

Millebosc²²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 97

15/2

Placed form at highest level as a 3-y-o when trained in France and he made a very pleasing start for William Haggas when a keeping-on fifth to Makinmedoit at Lingfield in November. Off since but could have been laid out for this and he's more interesting than most. Stall 20 could have been better.

Form: 37/5475-

(21)

Spirit Dancer⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: O J Orr| T: R A Fahey| OR: 97| CD

11/1

Took his form up last season, excellent fourth in this before landing a C&D contest a fortnight later. Enhanced excellent record at the track when third on reappearance and he's a big player providing stall 21 doesn't prove to be an issue.

Form: 82412-3

(13)

Marie's Diamond⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: Jason Hart| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 96

33/1

It's now 26 runs since his last win in 2021 but he still retains plenty of dash as a 7-y-o judged on a runner-up effort over C&D in May. Brushed aside in a Group 3 at Epsom and this looks too competitive.

Form: 600526

(6)

Haunted Dream⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: C Lee| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 96| D

10/1

Reliable sort who enhanced good strike rate on the AW when scoring at Chelmsford in April. Cracking second at Sandown last week and he's thriving. Same mark.

Form: 213-102

(3)

Nobel^t¹⁴^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Cieren Fallon| T: A M Balding| OR: 88| BF| D

12/1

Hasn't stood much racing but allowed to dictate things and made it win number 3 from 5 starts at Newcastle (10.2f) a fortnight ago. 5 lb penalty to carry and limit may not have been reached but this is clearly a deeper race.

Form: 1/18-01

(14)

Majestic⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: Connor Beasley| T: J Channon| OR: 92| BF

11/2

Won the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket on final 4-y-o start and has made a solid start to the new campaign, shaping up quite well when hitting the frame again from an unpromising position at Sandown last week. Likely to give it another good go.

Form: 1-49424

(18)

Scampi⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: Callum Hutchinson⁽³⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 92| C

16/1

Won a big-field handicap over 11.9f at the Dante meeting in May and with a hood left off, he cranked it up another notch when second in the Old Newton Cup a week ago. Clearly thriving so one to consider.

Form: 5-51652

(12)

Long Tradition^h²³^{(ex 5)}

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: Rowan Scott| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 86| D

8/1

Missed all of 2022 but expertly prepared to double tally (both at Chelmsford) fitted with a good on last month's reappearance. Easy to make a case for him being well treated under a penalty.

Form: 52182/1

(7)

Postmark^t⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-5| J: D Fentiman| T: M F Harris| OR: 89| BF| D

150/1

Dual Flat winner last summer and opened account over hurdles at Newbury (16.3f) in February. Not improved on that subsequently in that sphere and recent efforts on the level hardly brimming with promise.

Form: 1130-86

(1)

Faylaq¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-2| J: Cam Hardie| T: J S Goldie| OR: 86| BF

18/1

Losing run stretches back to 2019. Has resumed for his new trainer in good form but he rarely finds as much off the bridle as he promises so percentage call is to look elsewhere back in trip.

Form: 320-233

(22)

Cockalorum¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 8-2| J: J P Sullivan| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 84| D

80/1

Given a couple of superb rides when landing brace of Ripon handicaps over 9.8f this season. Brushed aside at Newcastle and dominating this field from just out of the weights a big ask.

Form: 5-11457

Non-Runners

(10)

Cadillac²⁵

Weight: 9-12| Age: 5

T: Alice Haynes J: Christian Howarth

(19)

Makinmedoit⁵²

Weight: 9-2| Age: 4

T: Harry Eustace J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

(8)

Marhaba The Champ⁴³

Weight: 8-8| Age: 4

T: K A Ryan J: S H James

(17)

Howth⁷

Weight: 8-5| Age: 4

T: M Appleby J: R Ffrench

Forecasts

Sea The Casper (9/2), Majestic (11/2), Millebosc (15/2), Long Tradition (8/1), White Wolf (9/1), Sonny Liston (9/1), Haunted Dream (10/1), Spirit Dancer (11/1), Nobel (12/1), Scampi (16/1), Cadillac (16/1), Marhaba The Champ (16/1), Pride Of America (18/1), Faylaq (18/1), Makinmedoit (25/1), Certain Lad (33/1), Marie's Diamond (33/1), Astro King (50/1), Howth (50/1), Cockalorum (80/1), Dawn Of Liberation (80/1), Postmark (150/1)

Any number to consider but SEA THE CASPER turned an AW handicap into a one-sided affair on reappearance a month ago and with that display backed up by a punchy timefigure, he looks ahead of his mark under a penalty. Long Tradition was expertly prepared to make a winning return to the track at Chelmsford and he's a massive threat, with Sonny Liston, Millebosc and Spirit Dancer completing the shortlist.