17:15 York

Friday 25 August 2023

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:15

Sky Bet Mile Handicap (Heritage Handicap)

Off time: 17:21 | Winning time: 1m 36.64s

(1)

Alzahir^h,t¹⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 100| D

28/1

Useful for the Gosdens, winning an AW maiden last autumn and a valuable event in Qatar (1m, turf) in February. Last seen finishing fifth in 1m Chelmsford conditions event in April. Sold for 82,000 gns last month. Smart effort needed from his lofty opening handicap mark.

Form: 871-125

(8)

Dear My Friend⁶⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: James Doyle| T: C Johnston| OR: 100| D

17/2

Improved to make a winning return in 1m AW listed race over Easter. Has been found out at pattern level since and might not find things much easier from a three-figure mark in a competitive handicap.

Form: 33-1800

(9)

Finn's Charm⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: C Johnston| OR: 98| D

25/1

Resumed with 1m win in Musselburgh handicap and also posted a good second in the German 2000 Guineas in May. Disappointed in very strong handicaps at Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood but back on track when fourth at Newmarket last Friday.

Form: 142004

(7)

Silver Sword²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Greg Cheyne| T: Dylan Cunha| OR: 93| D

15/2

Refused to race on first 2 starts but hard to knock since then, landing Southwell maiden and Pontefract handicap (both 1m) this term. Had soft ground as a possible excuse for a below-par run at Goodwood last time.

Form: 52-1217

(5)

English Oak³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: R L Moore| T: E Walker| OR: 90| D

6/1

Left his debut effort well behind when scoring at Thirsk (1m, good to firm) in July and improved again when third of 11 in novice at Newmarket (1m again) 16 days later. Interesting contender on handicap debut under Ryan Moore.

Form: 713

(6)

Tafreej⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 90| D

7/2

Useful handicapper who resumed winning ways in good style at Yarmouth (1m, good) in June. Fine fourth in 1m handicap at the Newmarket July meeting since and likely to go well from an unchanged mark.

Form: 1-33414

(12)

Glenfinnan²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 89| D

11/2

Useful form. Second in the Convivial maiden at this meeting last year. Failed to build on a promising Newmarket reappearance when down the field at Glorious Goodwood but the soft ground may have been against him.

Form: 421-49

(3)

Catch The Paddy⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: N Callan| T: K A Ryan| OR: 89| CWS

15/2

Won a 6f course nursery last summer and good second oif 14 in 7f course handicap on reappearance in May. Hasn't built on that in his 2 outings since and now steps up to 1m for the first time.

Form: 118-206

(11)

Modesty³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: S M Levey| T: M Meade| OR: 87| CD

15/2

Made a winning debut over C&D last autumn and has improved in defeat in novices at Doncaster and Newmarket (finished behind English Oak) this summer. Ought to be competitive from an opening mark in the mid-80s.

Form: 1-35

(4)

Bajan Bandit²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: S H James| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 87| C

12/1

Has taken his form up a notch for his current yard, winning 7f handicap at Haydock and here in recent months. Might be even more to come now returning to 7f and much respected despite a 7 lb rise.

Form: 44-8141

(2)

Power Of Gold²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: Harry Davies| T: H Palmer| OR: 82| D

12/1

Winner at Doncaster (1m) in June and respectable fourth from this mark at Ayr and Newcastle since. A bit more will be needed in this higher grade.

Form: 7-35144

Non-Runners

(10)

Enfjaar⁶²

Weight: 9-7| Age: 3

T: R Varian J: David Egan

Forecasts

Tafreej (7/2), Enfjaar (7/2), Glenfinnan (11/2), English Oak (6/1), Silver Sword (15/2), Catch The Paddy (15/2), Modesty (15/2), Dear My Friend (17/2), Bajan Bandit (12/1), Power Of Gold (12/1), Finn's Charm (25/1), Alzahir (28/1)

ENFJAAR failed to fire in the Jersey at Royal Ascot but had looked exciting when winning his first 2 starts and is taken to resume his progression on handicap debut. Fellow Shadwell runner Tafreej arrives on the back of a solid run in a strong handicap at the Newmarket July meeting and is second choice ahead of Grant Tuer's Bajan Bandit.