17:45 Thirsk

Tuesday 9 April 2024

All14:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:4517:1517:45

Storm Chaser Handicap

Off time: 17:58 | Winning time: 1m 38.71s

(9)

Elusive Empire^p³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: L Morris| T: A Watson| OR: 67

40/1

Seventh of 9 in handicap (25/1) at Kempton (7f) 38 days ago. Cheekpieces back on. Plenty to find on form.

Form: 229-677

(13)

End Zone²⁰¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Jonny Peate⁽³⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 65| D

50/1

11/1, won 11-runner handicap at Ayr (7.2f, good to soft) by nose from Highfield Viking, just holding on. Off 6 months. Fairly treated on return and will be dangerous if fully tuned up.

Form: 484391-

(11)

Buckshaw Village²¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Harrison Shaw| T: D Carroll| OR: 65| D

66/1

One win from 22 Flat runs. 33/1, first run since leaving Richard Fahey when last of 12 in handicap at Newcastle (10.2f). Off 7 months. Significantly back down in trip. Makes limited appeal.

Form: 946700-

(8)

Swatch¹⁹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: K T O'Neill| T: Alice Haynes| OR: 65

10/1

Sixth of 11 in handicap at Lingfield (10f, AW, 14/1). Off 6 months. Down in trip. First run for yard after leaving Robyn Brisland. Worth a second look in the market.

Form: 090/066-

(1)

Highfield Viking^b1¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 64

8/1

Off the mark on handicap debut at Doncaster (6f) 11 months ago and signed off last term with pair of solid runners-up efforts, latterly in a first-time visor at Ayr (7.2f) in September. Disappointed on Chelmsford return last month but better expected here. Blinkers on first time.

Form: 64322-0

(5)

Tasever^p¹⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 64

20/1

Seventh of 10 in handicap at Newcastle (8f, 12/1). Off 146 days. Claims on best form.

Form: 997257-

(3)

Bobby Shaft^p1¹⁰⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: Mark Winn⁽³⁾| T: J S Wainwright| OR: 64| D

50/1

Last of 10 in handicap (50/1) at Southwell (7.1f). Off 109 days. Cheekpieces on for 1st time. Hard to recommend.

Form: 16/0800-

(2)

Majestic Newlaw^p,t¹⁶⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: P Mulrennan| T: I Jardine| OR: 63

28/1

Tongue strap on for 1st time cheekpieces on for 1st time, below form seventh of 14 in handicap (16/1) at Windsor (8.1f, heavy). Off 169 days. Market may prove best guide to claims on debut for new yard.

Form: 326/087-

(15)

Vondelpark⁷⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Joanna Mason| T: Sara Ender| OR: 63| C

15/2

Course winner. 11/1, respectable sixth of 11 in handicap at Southwell (7.1f) 77 days ago, not clear run. Each-way claims.

Form: 0324-66

(7)

Russco^b⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: D Allan| T: Mrs A Duffield| OR: 62| D

4/1

Fifteen runs since last win in 2021. Back on track when creditable fourth of 10 in handicap (6/1) at Catterick (7f, heavy) 6 days ago and figures off a handy mark.

Form: 7944-94

(16)

Mister Sox^b¹⁶⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: J Garritty| T: T D Easterby| OR: 62| D

9/2

Winner at Catterick in September. Creditable third of 10 in handicap at Doncaster (7f, heavy, 9/2), clear of rest. Off 164 days. Not out of things.

Form: 237143-

(4)

Lope De Rueda^h,t¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Jason Watson| T: R Menzies| OR: 59

28/1

20/1 and tongue strap on for 1st time, sixth of 9 in handicap at Newcastle (7.1f) 15 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 5085-06

(10)

Ey Up Its Jazz²⁰⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: T Eaves| T: T Coyle & K Wood| OR: 59| CD

5/2

Won twice (at up to 7f) last spring and ended campaign with good second of 15 in handicap at Thirsk (7f, soft) in September. Player if hitting the ground running.

Form: 116282-

(6)

Carmentis²²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: Andrew Breslin⁽³⁾| T: B Haslam| OR: 45

150/1

Pulled up in juvenile hurdle (66/1) at Cartmel (17.2f, soft) when last seen 7 months ago. Looks set for another struggle back on the Flat. 1 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 60/8566-

Non-Runners

(14)

Sluzewiec²⁰

Weight: 9-3| Age: 5

T: S Dixon J: D Swift

(12)

Willow Baby⁵⁹

Weight: 9-1| Age: 4

T: J Ward J: Gianluca Sanna

Forecasts

Ey Up Its Jazz (5/2), Russco (4/1), Mister Sox (9/2), Vondelpark (15/2), Highfield Viking (8/1), Swatch (10/1), Willow Baby (14/1), Tasever (20/1), Lope De Rueda (28/1), Majestic Newlaw (28/1), Sluzewiec (33/1), Elusive Empire (40/1), Bobby Shaft (50/1), End Zone (50/1), Buckshaw Village (66/1), Carmentis (150/1)

The reapplication of headgear could be the key to HIGHFIELD VIKING, who was below form on his Chelmsford comeback last month but goes well in testing conditions. He gets the nod. Ey Up Its Jazz and Russco head the list of dangers.