14:45 York

Friday 17 May 2024

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

Knights Solicitors Handicap

Off time: 14:46 | Winning time: 2m 9.24s

(10)

Epic Poet²³⁰

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

18/1

Smart performer for Jean-Claude Rouget in France but failed to beat a rival in 2 outings in quick succession for new yard last summer and didn't fare much better in the Cambridgeshire when last seen. Since moved yards but has a lot to prove.

Form: 322/670-

(2)

Botanical²²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: James Doyle| T: R Varian| OR: 97

5/2

Hamilton novice winner on second career start in July and taking on his elders, he showed his handicap mark to be all wrong back at that venue in October (9.2f). 10 lb rise more than fair on this return to action for leading yard.

Form: 21231-

(9)

Lord Protector²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 93| D

80/1

Bolstered his good record at Sandown (10f) in July but seemed anchored by small rise in weights thereafter and heavy defeats both starts for new yard 6 months apart.

Form: 21600-8

(4)

Theoryofeverything¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 92| BF

7/1

Useful 3-y-o for the Gosden stable and made a promising start for his new yard after a gelding operation when neck fourth of 17 to Hafeet Alain and Dutch Decoy over 1m at the Craven meeting. Not quite in the same form back at Newmarket latest but he's still one to view positively.

Form: 7383-45

(1)

King's Code^v¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Oisin Murphy| T: P D Evans| OR: 91

14/1

Real success story for his yard, adding more wins at Southwell and Kempton (both 1m) at the beginning of the year. Not at best when seventh of 14 at Newcastle on Good Friday and latest turf run in a first-time visor suggests the assessor may just have him now.

Form: 311477

(7)

Majestic¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: George Bass⁽³⁾| T: J Channon| OR: 91

9/1

Won the 2022 Cambridgeshire and ended his 2023 campaign with a good fourth in that race. Enhanced excellent Newmarket record with 2 solid efforts in recent weeks and he's likely to give this another good go (fourth in this last year).

Form: 4044-54

(12)

Andaleep^t⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: W Buick| T: D & C Kubler| OR: 91| CD

12/1

Excellent servant for connections winning over C&D in July before showcasing his versatility on the AW this winter with 2 further victories. Cracking third at Lingfield when last seen in March but 3 lb rise for that probably enough to anchor him.

Form: 715133

(5)

Eilean Dubh^v¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 89| C

16/1

Massive Sunday Series success story in 2022, winning twice at York over just shy of 1m. Just the one success since but he's 3 lb below that mark returned to this venue trying 10f for the first time.

Form: 0800-96

(13)

Reach²⁶⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Joanna Mason| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 87| CD

17/2

Progressive last year, barely coming off the bridle to score at Nottingham (10.2f) in June and followed up in good style at Beverley a week later. Improving when signing off with a C&D win and every chance her limit has yet to be reached.

Form: 041181-

(11)

Stressfree^p1²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Hollie Doyle| T: D O'Meara| OR: 86| BF| D

18/1

Has quickly developed into a useful handicapper for this yard, winning in the mud over this trip at Nottingham last backend and even better form when runner-up on his Doncaster reappearance. Ripon undulations perhaps not ideal last time. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 7421-24

(6)

Qitaal¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Connor Beasley| T: C Johnston| OR: 85| D

11/1

Rejoined former yard for just 4,000 gns and proved that all ability is retained to make a winning handicap debut at Doncaster after almost 2 years off in March, going with zest. Quickly put Epsom blip behind him when second at Goodwood a fortnight ago.

Form: 316/162

(3)

Loyal Touch⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Jason Hart| T: C Johnston| OR: 85| D

6/1

Cashed in on a career-low mark when making all over this trip at Newcastle in March. Held his form very well since, recording brace of excellent runner-up efforts, latterly returned to turf at Chester last week.

Form: 66-8122

(16)

Qaasid^v²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: David Egan| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 84| D

28/1

Three-time winner on the AW and performed with credit when third on sole turf start last season at Newmarket. Dropped in the weights following a quiet spell and took advantage in no uncertain tersm returned to turf at Newbury a month ago, responding well.

Form: 2-00801

(8)

Theme Park¹⁴

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

28/1

7f AW winner for Sir Michael Stoute who ran his best race for present stable (having been gelded) when second here over 7.8f in September. Not in same form at Kempton final start and very likely needed his reappearance. Second start over this trip.

Form: 36726-0

(15)

Kitsune Power^b²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 79| D

80/1

Progressed quite well at 3 but he had just one creditable effort to show from his 6 outings for Roger Varian last season. Last of 8 on reappearance for new yard and blinkers back on.

Form: 30705-8

(14)

Barley^p1¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: J F Egan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 79

40/1

Limited impact in fairly light 2023 campaign but that helped his mark and he shaped with much more promise when third at Redcar a fortnight ago. Cheekpieces on first time and he's of interest.

Form: 00626-3

Forecasts

Botanical (5/2), Loyal Touch (6/1), Theoryofeverything (7/1), Reach (17/2), Majestic (9/1), Qitaal (11/1), Andaleep (12/1), King's Code (14/1), Eilean Dubh (16/1), Epic Poet (18/1), Stressfree (18/1), Theme Park (28/1), Qaasid (28/1), Barley (40/1), Lord Protector (80/1), Kitsune Power (80/1)

BOTANICAL was as easy a handicap winner as it gets when last seen at Hamilton in October and, very much the type to make a better 4-y-o, he makes plenty of appeal on reappearance for a top yard. Majestic was fourth in this a year ago and is admirably consistent, with Barley one to consider at longer odds at the foot of the weights.