16:45 York

Saturday 14 October 2023

All13:1513:5014:2515:0515:3516:1016:45

Coral 'Committed To Safer Gambling' Finale Handicap

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 2m 15.15s

(7)

Toshizou²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: Jonny Peate⁽³⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 86

5/1

Useful operator for Joseph O'Brien and not far off that level for current yard, doing best of the older brigade behind a pair of very progressive 3-y-os when third at Newbury (10f, heavy) 3 weeks ago. Still has just a sole success to his name, though.

Form: 484703

(6)

Marie's Diamond³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Jason Hart| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 85

12/1

It's now thirty-one runs since last win in 2021 and again offered little when 9 lengths tenth of 11 to Painters Palette (won again since) at Wolverhampton (9.5f) just over 5 weeks ago. Not easy to make a case for in current mood.

Form: 260090

(8)

Dunes King^h1³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: K Shoemark| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 85| BF| D

22/1

Perfect start when winning at Windsor in July but has failed to repeat that on his next 2 starts, once more finding less than might have been expected when fourth at Kempton last month. First-time hood applied for his handicap debut.

Form: 154

(10)

Furzig²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: J Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 79| D

11/1

Hasn't had much racing this year and latest third at Ayr (13.1f, good) 3 weeks ago suggested he's on a potentially good mark for this back-end. Back down in trip and one to keep a close eye on.

Form: 5-35033

(3)

Star Ahoy²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Cieren Fallon| T: W J Haggas| OR: 81| BF| D

2/1

Shaped with promise when in the frame in Yarmouth maiden and Newmarket novice before getting off the mark in workmanlike fashion in a Pontefract maiden (10f, good to soft) in July. No match for an improver on handicap bow at Sandown recently but he's still relatively lightly raced.

Form: 7-4312

(5)

Promoter^b¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: H Crouch| T: R M Beckett| OR: 80

15/2

Has been a shade disappointing in recent starts but his mark has come down as a result and he wasn't seen to best effect given how things unfolded when third at Newmarket (10f, good to firm) just over a fortnight ago, needing a stronger gallop. Yard in flying form so needs considering.

Form: 550553

(2)

Molinari^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: D Nolan| T: M Todhunter| OR: 74| C| D

28/1

Posted reasonable efforts back-to-back for the first time this year when fifth at Catterick (12.1f, heavy) 3 weeks ago. Mark eases further and not without each-way hope.

Form: 803045

(16)

Goldsborough^p1²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: P J McDonald| T: A M Balding| OR: 78

40/1

Left debut form well behind when scoring at Goodwood in May. Had a hood applied and fared better than on handicap debut in a less competitive race when third at Sandown (10f, heavy) 24 days ago. Cheekpieces the headgear of choice this time.

Form: 61503

(11)

Poet's Dawn⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 72| C| D

33/1

Given a chance by the handicapper and capitalised in ready fashion when won 11-runner handicap at Redcar last month but possibly amiss when attempting to follow up back there last week, losing place soon after halfway. Will need to bounce back quickly.

Form: 234510

(13)

Where's Jeff¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: S A Gray| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 72| D

28/1

Arguably didn't need to exceed the level he'd run to a few times previously this season when landing his fourth success at Hamilton (12.1f, good to soft) last month. Just 1 lb higher here and could well be in the mix.

Form: 592241

(15)

Bushfire²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Connor Beasley| T: G Tutty| OR: 72| D

12/1

Doubled his tally for the year at Southwell early last month but not in the same form when eighth at Newcastle (8f) just over a fortnight ago. Took a step back in the right direction when fifth at Ayr (10f) on Thursday but others more appealing on balance.

Form: 413185

(1)

Bosc Girl²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Ryan Sexton⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 76

9/2

Accounted for the short-priced favourite but was unable to get near a winner who took a big step forward at this C&D (soft) 3 weeks ago. Handy claimer takes over and she's certainly not without hope.

Form: 029432

(9)

Iron Sheriff¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Hollie Doyle| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 63| D

40/1

Notched 3 wins during the summer and after a couple of below-par efforts, underlined his versatility with regards underfoot conditions when back to form at Beverley (9.9f, heavy) 18 days ago. Likely to find a few too strong in this, however.

Form: 317664

Non-Runners

(12)

Eeetee³⁴

Weight: 9-10| Age: 5

T: D O'Meara J: Richard Oliver

(4)

Cap Francais⁴⁴

Weight: 9-8| Age: 7

T: Ian Williams J: R Kingscote

(14)

Invisible Friend²¹

Weight: 9-2| Age: 4

T: K A Ryan J: Rowan Scott

Forecasts

Star Ahoy (2/1), Bosc Girl (9/2), Toshizou (5/1), Promoter (15/2), Furzig (11/1), Marie's Diamond (12/1), Bushfire (12/1), Eeetee (16/1), Invisible Friend (16/1), Dunes King (22/1), Cap Francais (25/1), Molinari (28/1), Where's Jeff (28/1), Poet's Dawn (33/1), Goldsborough (40/1), Iron Sheriff (40/1)

An ultra-competitive event to bring down the curtain on York's 2023 season and the narrow vote goes to PROMOTER, who has failed to make much of a splash in handicaps this year but his yard couldn't be in better form at present. Star Ahoy finished runner-up on his handicap debut recently and still relatively lightly raced, he's put forward as the main danger, with Furzig, Eeetee and Bosc Girl just a handful of others to consider.