14:15 York

Wednesday 15 May 2024

All14:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:4517:20

Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Jorvik Handicap

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 2m 32.25s

(13)

Klondike^t²⁷⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 103WS

11/2

Galileo colt who tasted success on debut in a Newbury maiden (11f, heavy) last spring and useful efforts in defeat at listed/Group 3 level next 2 starts. Never figured in Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury in August but had wind op ahead of return and this more suitable on handicap debut.

Form: 1247-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(4)

Track Of Time¹²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: J P Spencer| T: Ian Williams| OR: 102

20/1

Three-time winner on turf/AW in France last summer (useful form) and not disgraced when midfield in pair of Meydan handicaps around the turn of the year for Francis-Henri Graffard. However, likely he needs to pull out more now starting out for new stable.

Form: 1621-45

(2)

Marhaba The Champ²³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: W Buick| T: K A Ryan| OR: 97| CD

9/2

Made a winning return at this meeting 12 months ago and relished the step up in trip when going in again over C&D at the Ebor Meeting in August. Too free at Newmarket final start but fact he's gone well fresh a plus and he's 2-2 around here. Respected.

Form: 8/16019-

(9)

Westerton¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Rossa Ryan| T: A King| OR: 97

14/1

Only a maiden win to his name but he showed very useful and improved form when close second (clear of rest) in 1¼m handicap at Doncaster last September. Likely he needed first start for 7 months at Newmarket (9f) 11 days ago and worth another crack at this trip under these conditions.

Form: 13529-0

(5)

Kihavah^t¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A Keatley| OR: 97| CD

13/2

Thrived last summer, recording a 4-timer (including a C&D success) and signed off with a solid second in class 2 Newmarket handicap (14f) in July. Entitled to be back up to speed on the back of 2 comeback runs this year and no surprise to see a good showing.

Form: 1112-74

(10)

Crystal Delight^t²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Jim Crowley| T: Harry Eustace| OR: 97

18/5

Plenty of creditable efforts in handicaps last year for the now-retired William Jarvis and well backed, ran out an emphatic winner from the front on debut for new yard at Epsom 910f) 3 weeks ago, clear under 2f out. Handicapper has reacted but that may not prove his limit.

Form: 36520-1

(3)

Chillingham^p1,h¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: E Bethell| OR: 96| BF| D

6/1

Successful on return at Thirsk (12f, heavy) last spring and held form well in stronger company thereafter last year. Stepped up on his Kempton reappearance when third at Ripon (12f, heavy) 18 days ago and he could do better still, particularly back over 1¾m. Cheekpieces on 1st time.

Form: 2492-73

(6)

Flash Bardot¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: David Probert| T: J Channon| OR: 93| D

10/1

Won 5 times in 2023, latterly at Catterick (12f, heavy) in October and she again handled conditions best when seeing off a host of similarly useful fillies on return at Doncaster (11.9f, soft) 18 days ago. Has form on quicker ground but she may need soft/heavy to be seen at her best.

Form: 38118-1

(11)

Two Brothers^v¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Billy Garritty| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 92| CD

22/1

Likeable sort who scored over C&D last September and posted a career-best display when winning 14-runner Thirsk handicap (12f, heavy) on penultimate start last month. Respectable third at Hamilton (13f) followed but he may just be tapped for speed back down in trip here.

Form: 551-413

(12)

Oneforthegutter^p¹⁰⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: R Kingscote| T: Ian Williams| OR: 90| D

33/1

Showed an excellent attitude to resume winning ways in 10-runner handicap at Southwell (12.1f) on final outing of 2023 in December. Easily excused his next start at Kempton (12f) in January but others rate that bit stronger returning from 109 days off.

Form: 26431-8

(8)

Percy Shelley^v1¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 90

33/1

Useful performer in France who was successful 3 times in 2022. Current yard yet to find the key to him in 4 starts, no upturn for fitting of cheekpieces at Newmarket (12f) 11 days ago. Visor now the headgear of choice.

Form: 3/606-69

(1)

Saratoga Gold²²

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: C Lee| T: K Frost| OR: 88| D

33/1

Resurgent in blinkers when completing quick-fire hat-trick in 2022 and added to his tally at Kempton (12f) last July. Operated below best thereafter but not disgraced starting out for new yard when fifth in handicap at Epsom (12f) 3 weeks ago. Task is to build on that effort now.

Form: 69008-5

(7)

Lightening Company²³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: A Mullen| T: B Haslam| OR: 84

16/1

Successful at Pontefract (10f) this time last year and has made a bright start to this campaign, placed in handicaps with plenty of give underfoot in recent months. However, return to forecast quicker ground now possibly not ideal judged on the balance of his form.

Form: 0435-32

Non-Runners

(14)

Island Brave³⁹

Weight: 9-2| Age: 10

T: H Main J: L Morris

Forecasts

Crystal Delight (18/5), Marhaba The Champ (9/2), Klondike (11/2), Chillingham (6/1), Kihavah (13/2), Flash Bardot (10/1), Westerton (14/1), Lightening Company (16/1), Track Of Time (20/1), Two Brothers (22/1), Oneforthegutter (33/1), Percy Shelley (33/1), Saratoga Gold (33/1), Island Brave (33/1)

CRYSTAL DELIGHT justified good support when emphatically making his first start for Harry Eustace a winning one at Epsom 3 weeks ago, and with the step back up in trip holding no fears, there's every chance we've not yet seen the best of him for his new yard. Marhaba The Champ is 2-2 on the Knavesmire and is respected on his return (won first time up last term). Kihavah and Klondike are others worth a second look.