14:45 York

Thursday 16 May 2024

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

Oakmere Homes Hambleton Handicap

Off time: 14:49 | Winning time: 1m 36.97s

(14)

Grey's Monument^b⁵⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 106| CD

16/1

Lightly raced C&D winner who posted a career-best effort when landing listed Hyde Stakes at Kempton (1m) on final start last year. Not disgraced when fourth behind Charyn on return at Doncaster (1m) in March and likely to give a good account with usual blinkers back on.

Form: 2/8231-3

(1)

Al Mubhir^t¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 105| BF| D

9/2

All 3 career victories gained on ground softer than good and, off 5 months/gelded, ran right up to his best when runner-up in class 2 handicap at Leicester (8.2f, heavy) 3 weeks ago, keeping on well and just failing. Additional rain would aid his cause.

Form: 83936-2

(9)

Northern Express¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods| OR: 100| C| D

8/1

Won the Thirsk Hunt Cup 12 months ago and big efforts in defeat either side of success over 7f here in July. Entitled to be sharper for a couple of comeback runs this spring and he lines up here operating just 1 lb above his last winning mark. Expected to give his running again.

Form: 4502-57

(5)

Point Lynas^h²⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: E Bethell| OR: 100| D

6/1

Improved model last season, winning at Newcastle (1m) and only just touched off in this corresponding race. Best effort thereafter when runner-up back over this C&D in August and not disgraced in Group 3 final start. Can't be discounted despite career-high mark on return to action.

Form: 622024-

(15)

Blue For You^v,t²⁰⁸

9/1

Resumed winning ways in good style over C&D in July but more miss than hit in handful of starts thereafter, beaten long way out in Balmoral Handicap at Ascot on final start. Goes well at this track but has tended to need his first run of the season to put him spot on. Had wind op.

Form: 100070-

(10)

Bopedro^v¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 98| D

16/1

Smart handicapper with a good Newmarket record, including a 1m win and third in Cambridgeshire there last year. Comes here in better heart than recent form figures suggest and he's one to note having edged back down to his last winning mark. Visor again applied.

Form: 34-4788

(2)

Mirsky¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 98| D

11/1

Useful ex-French performer who ran creditably on the back of 6 months off (acquired for €37,000) when keeping on fifth in Thirsk Hunt Cup (1m) 12 days ago. Just the type his yard excel with and he may yet have more to offer.

Form: 11797-5

(6)

Dutch Decoy¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: J Fanning| T: C Johnston| OR: 94| D

11/2

Cracking servant to connections who has looked as good as ever this spring, runner-up on each of his last 2 starts in competitive Newmarket handicaps at up to 9f. Mark has crept up a little more ahead of this but he's the type to continue in form.

Form: 606-022

(8)

La Trinidad¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: Oisin Murphy| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 93| CD

14/1

Showed benefit of his reappearance run when running out an easy winner at Doncaster (1m) last June and plenty of good efforts in defeat after from marks in the mid 90's. Should be sharper for his return at Thirsk (1m) 12 days ago and his yard are amongst the winners.

Form: 59327-0

(18)

Catch The Paddy^p1²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: J P Spencer| T: K A Ryan| OR: 92| C

33/1

Progressive for the bulk of last season, getting off the mark when meeting his elders for the first time at Newmarket (7f) in September. Looked a little tricky at Kempton final start though, and well held on his reappearance at first-named venue 4 weeks ago. Cheekpieces go on now.

Form: 62616-0

(16)

Symbol Of Light^h1,p1⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Ryan Sexton| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 92| DWS

25/1

Lightly raced for his age and held his form well in defeat on AW in recent months, sixth in AW Championship Mile Handicap at Newcastle in March. Had wind surgery subsequently and he remains unexposed on turf so he's well worth keeping an eye on. Cheekpieces on 1st time.

Form: 453-226

(12)

Nibras Angel^t⁵⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Callum Shepherd| T: I Mohammed| OR: 92

16/1

Won 2 of her 4 starts as a 3-y-o and progressed further without getting her head in front in Meydan around the turn of the year. Recent exploits not so good and others make more appeal on balance returned to these shores.

Form: 0-34369

(17)

Master Richard¹⁸³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: David Egan| T: Mrs A Duffield| OR: 90| CD

50/1

Won on his respective return at Newcastle (7f) last term before finishing down the field in this corresponding race 12 months ago. Mixed bag in handful of starts on turf/AW thereafter and he may just prove vulnerable to a few back from 6 months off.

Form: 020773-

(4)

Look Back Smiling¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: S D Bowen⁽⁵⁾| T: G Tutty| OR: 89| D

12/1

Successful on final start at Doncaster in October and picked up where he left off when taking 18-runner Spring Mile at that venue in March. Performed well on 2 of his 3 starts since, career-best when second in Thirsk Hunt Cup last time. Slow starting remains a concern, though.

Form: 51-1942

(3)

Cruyff Turn^h¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 8-8| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 88| CD

33/1

Good winner of this race 2 years who added to his tally at Redcar (7f) last June. Didn't kick on in handful of starts thereafter but entitled to strip fitter for his reappearance in the Thirsk Hunt Cup earlier this month and he's lurking on a dangerous mark if taking a step forward now.

Form: 19008-0

(7)

Chuzzlewit^b¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Hollie Doyle| T: K A Ryan| OR: 87| D

28/1

Belatedly doubled his account in first-time blinkers when scoring in a small-field at Newcastle in March. Mid-field in the Lincoln at Doncaster (8f, heavy) next time but again below his AW form when ninth of 16 in handicap at Newmarket 12 days ago. Others preferred.

Form: 594199

(20)

Bajan Bandit¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-5| J: A J Farragher| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 85| C

80/1

Thrived for this yard last season, winning handicaps at Haydock/here before filling the frame all 3 starts, second of 10 in handicap at Newmarket (7f) in September. Nearer last than first in 2 starts so far this campaign but had excuses on account of the ground at Thirsk latest.

Form: 1342-00

Non-Runners

(19)

Metal Merchant²⁶

Weight: 9-2| Age: 4

T: J Channon J: James Doyle

(13)

Navagio²⁶

Weight: 9-1| Age: 5

T: James Horton J: R L Moore

(11)

Dashing Roger¹⁹

Weight: 8-8| Age: 7

T: W Stone J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Al Mubhir (9/2), Metal Merchant (5/1), Dutch Decoy (11/2), Point Lynas (6/1), Northern Express (8/1), Blue For You (9/1), Mirsky (11/1), Look Back Smiling (12/1), La Trinidad (14/1), Bopedro (16/1), Grey's Monument (16/1), Nibras Angel (16/1), Navagio (16/1), Symbol Of Light (25/1), Chuzzlewit (28/1), Cruyff Turn (33/1), Catch The Paddy (33/1), Master Richard (50/1), Dashing Roger (50/1), Bajan Bandit (80/1)

Unsurprisingly claims can be made for plenty, and having slipped a little in the weights, NORTHERN EXPRESS could be ready to strike. Far from disgraced when midfield in the Thirsk Hunt Cup recently, he has plenty of excellent efforts to his name on the Knavesmire and can be expected to go close. Spring Cup winner Metal Merchant may have more to offer himself and is feared along with Bopedro. Dutch Decoy and Al Mubhir complete the shortlist.