14:45 York

Wednesday 15 May 2024

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

Churchill Tyres Handicap

Off time: 14:48 | Winning time: 1m 11.14s

(14)

Badri⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Ryan Sexton| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 101| D

28/1

Hit the target on five occasions last year, rounding off his campaign with a career-best effort at Ascot. Below that level on both starts on all-weather this year but could get back on track now returned to turf.

Form: 0201-09

(10)

Great Ambassador²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Tom Marquand| T: E Walker| OR: 97| CD

11/1

Smart performer at his best but was well beaten after 20 months off at Newmarket (6f, good to firm) recently so has something to prove.

Form: 20763/0

(3)

Aberama Gold^v¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: K Shoemark| T: D O'Meara| OR: 96| CD

13/2

Smart sprinter who tasted success 5 times last season, notably in the Sky Bet Dash over C&D and Stewards' Cup. Quiet start to 2024 but more like it on turf the last twice, giving way only late on when sixth at Newmarket (6f, good) 11 days ago. Each-way claims.

Form: 44-6636

(20)

Magical Spirit¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 95| D

14/1

Given a chance by the handicapper and with the usual cheekpieces left off, resumed winning ways in good style in 16-runner handicap at Doncaster (6f, soft) 18 days ago, drawing clear inside final 1f. Ran well when third in this last year (from 2 lb higher) and should go well again.

Form: 76006-1

(5)

Summerghand^v¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 9-2| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 94| CD

13/2

Dead-heated in a valuable C&D handicap last summer. Efforts mixed since but returned to turf with a most eye-catching effort when staying-on fifth of 18 at Newmarket last month. Failed to build on that back there last time but still needs keeping a close eye on.

Form: 052858

(8)

Hispanic²²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Rossa Ryan| T: M Appleby| OR: 94| D

50/1

Dual winner for Aidan O'Brien who showed speed back on all-weather but was well seen off by the end at Dundalk (5f) last October. Sold for 15,000 gns later that month and interesting to see how he fares for new connections.

Form: 000176-

(22)

Makanah²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-2| J: P Mulrennan| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 94| D

18/1

Tends to go well fresh and having slipped to lowest mark in almost 5 years, ran creditably after 7 months off when fourth at Newmarket (5f, good) last month. Fifth in this last year and shouldn't be underestimated.

Form: 54040-4

(11)

Mr Wagyu^v¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 8-13| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 91| CD

11/1

Largely ran well without winning in 2023 and ran creditably after 7 months off from his lowest mark in almost 3 years when runner-up at Ripon (5f, heavy) last month. Seventh in this last year and not taken lightly if stepping up on his return effort.

Form: 93850-2

(6)

Aleezdancer^b¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: N Callan| T: K A Ryan| OR: 91| D

14/1

Kicked off 2023 with a comfortable win in 6f Doncaster handicap on heavy and good third in that race under 7 lb claimer on return this time around. Probably unsuited by drying conditions at Newmarket earlier this month and that's likely to hold him back once again.

Form: 7506-30

(12)

Intervention^p¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: Cieren Fallon| T: M Appleby| OR: 91| D

66/1

Rattled off a 4-timer at the back end of last year and has been runner-up in 5 starts in 2024. Run of good form halted at Southwell last time (did a shade too much switched to front-running tactics) and hard to know how he'll fare returned to turf.

Form: 448229

(21)

Wobwobwob^v¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: O J Orr| T: A Keatley| OR: 91| C| D

22/1

Won the 25-runner Ayr Silver Cup last autumn and having slipped back down to that mark, capitalised on the drop in grade when winning 15-runner handicap at Thirsk (6f, soft) 11 days ago, finding plenty to lead near line. This a much better contest, however.

Form: 105-001

(1)

Lethal Levi¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 91| D

5/1

Failed to score last term but posted some good efforts in defeat, including when fourth of 17 in handicap at Ascot (7f, good to firm) 6 months ago. Left the impression he needed the run and Newmarket (7f, good) 12 days ago and that should have put him spot on back sprinting.

Form: 57494-8

(13)

Chairmanoftheboard^v¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-9| J: David Probert| T: J Channon| OR: 87| D

10/1

Losing run mounting but left reappearance effort behind when going down by just at head at Newbury last month. Ran to a similar level when third at Newmarket (6f, good) 11 days ago and is firmly knocking on the door. Respected.

Form: 309-823

(4)

Woven²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 8-9| J: Oisin Murphy| T: M Dods| OR: 87| C| D

17/2

Plenty of solid runs in big-field handicaps for this yard, including when beaten just 3 lengths by Wobwobwob in the Ayr Silver Cup last season. Another good effort on return at Doncaster but not in the same mood at Newmarket (6f, good to firm) subsequently. Must bounce back.

Form: 7346-29

(2)

Hyperfocus^p¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 8-8| J: J P Sullivan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 86| D

66/1

Signed off for 2023 with solid fourth of 22 in handicap over C&D last October. Probably needed the run after 7 months off when last of 8 at Ripon (5f, heavy) 18 days ago and it's worth noting that he tends to come on plenty for his reappearance.

Form: 93074-9

(7)

Lethal Nymph¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: L Morris| T: P T Midgley| OR: 85| D

28/1

Shaped as if back in form when 5½ lengths fifth of 16 to Magical Spirit in handicap at Doncaster (6f, soft) 18 days ago, just doing too much in the early stages. Handicapper given him a big chance but this a tough race to snap a lengthy losing streak.

Form: 25-7305

(18)

Monsieur Kodi¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Cam Hardie| T: R A Fahey| OR: 85| D

50/1

A three-time 5f/6f winner on soft ground last season. Shaped better than the bare result after 6 months off when fifth of 9 at Ripon (5f, heavy) 18 days ago (finished with running left) but this drying ground is likely no use to him (goes especially well in testing conditions).

Form: 65829-5

(19)

Manila Scouse^t⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 84

28/1

Back-to-back wins at Haydock/Chepstow last August and shaped encouragingly after 6 months off when finishing runner-up at Wetherby (5.5f, soft) last month. Not so good having missed a beat at the start at Chester last week and can't afford to do that again. Back up in trip.

Form: 3444-26

(16)

Abate¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-6| J: Mia Nicholls⁽⁵⁾| T: Adrian Nicholls| OR: 84| CD

28/1

Enjoyed a tremendous year under this rider in 2023, winning 4 handicaps, including when making all from low draw at Newmarket in September. Made solid return from 7 months off when sixth at that track last month but unable to build on it there subsequently.

Form: 5312-67

(15)

Dakota Gold¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 8-6| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR: 84| CD

25/1

4-time C&D winner who needed the run at Doncaster on return and shaped better than the bare result when mid-field back there (6f, soft) 18 days ago, racing closer to pace than ideal. Mark drops another 3 lb but may prove vulnerable to younger legs.

Form: 0000-08

(17)

Lakota Blue²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-5| J: Rowan Scott| T: N Tinkler| OR: 83| BF| D

14/1

Resumed winning ways on second start back at Ripon last season and having been gelded, was unable to live up to market expectations but wasn't disgraced after 7 months off when fourth at Beverley just under 3 weeks ago. Return to 6f will suit so certainly not discounted.

Form: 62053-4

Non-Runners

(9)

Orazio²⁸

Weight: 9-8| Age: 5

T: C Hills J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Lethal Levi (5/1), Aberama Gold (13/2), Summerghand (13/2), Orazio (7/1), Woven (17/2), Chairmanoftheboard (10/1), Great Ambassador (11/1), Mr Wagyu (11/1), Aleezdancer (14/1), Lakota Blue (14/1), Magical Spirit (14/1), Makanah (18/1), Wobwobwob (22/1), Dakota Gold (25/1), Abate (28/1), Manila Scouse (28/1), Badri (28/1), Lethal Nymph (28/1), Monsieur Kodi (50/1), Hispanic (50/1), Intervention (66/1), Hyperfocus (66/1)

LETHAL LEVI, who left the impression the run was needed earlier this month, should be bang there back sprinting. Chairmanoftheboard, Mr Wagyu and Magical Spirit are a handful of others to consider in what looks a wide-open sprint.