15:00 Thirsk

Monday 24 June 2024

All13:5514:2515:0015:3016:0016:3017:0017:30

Theakston Simply The Best Classified Stakes

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 1m 10.45s

(19)

Ustath⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-13| J: Billy Loughnane| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 47| CD

9/1

Modest gelding. C&D winner. Won 8-runner handicap (5/2) at Wolverhampton (5.1f) 4 days ago. Rare run on turf and that asks a question.

Form: 774821

(14)

Ben Dikduk¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: D C Costello| T: M Walford| OR: 50| D

11/2

Down in the weights and easily best effort for this yard when winning 14-runner handicap at Hamilton (6f, good to firm) 12 days ago. Has to be taken seriously on the back of that.

Form: 6-60001

(7)

Bernie The Bear^p¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Callum Shepherd| T: Miss L A Perratt| OR: 50| D

11/1

Modest gelding. 12/1, 10½ lengths thirteenth of 14 to Ben Dikduk in handicap at Hamilton (6f, good to firm) 12 days ago. Cheekpieces back on and he needs to bounce back.

Form: 242430

(9)

Birdie Bowers¹⁹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: D Allan| T: D Thompson| OR: 45

33/1

Modest gelding. Seventeen runs since last win in 2022. Blinkered for first time, tenth of 11 in handicap (22/1) at Newcastle (5f). Off 6 months so he may just need this.

Form: 702780-

(3)

Delagate The Lady²³²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: Rowan Scott| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 45| D

33/1

14/1, seventh of 10 in handicap at Lingfield (7f, AW), left poorly placed. Off 7 months. First run for yard after leaving Robyn Brisland.

Form: 093857-

(17)

Eternal Sunshine¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: P Mulrennan| T: J S Goldie| OR: 50

6/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Creditable fourth of 8 in handicap (18/1) at Musselburgh (5f, good to firm) 11 days ago. One to take seriously with step back up in trip sure to suit.

Form: 466-04

(6)

Flavius Titus^p⁵²

Age: 9| Weight: 9-9| J: Sam Feilden⁽⁷⁾| T: D Brooke| OR: 50| CD

10/1

C&D winner. 28/1, respectable third of 12 in handicap at Newcastle (6f) 52 days ago. Enters calculations.

Form: 42575-3

(10)

Gidwa^t,p⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Ben Robinson| T: B Ellison| OR: 49| D

17/2

Latest win at Wolverhampton in April. 12/1, respectable third of 11 in handicap at Beverley (7.4f, good to soft) 6 days ago.

Form: 215023

(13)

Glorious Rio^p³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Faye McManoman| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 47| D

25/1

Twenty six runs since last win in 2022. Ninth of 11 in handicap at Hamilton (6f, good, 6/1) 38 days ago.

Form: 5-77699

(11)

Irish Dancer^b1³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Zak Wheatley⁽³⁾| T: D Carroll| OR: 50| BF

11/1

Last of 7 in handicap at Catterick (5f, soft, 5/2) 32 days ago. Blinkers on and better could be forthcoming on drying ground.

Form: 09-0727

(16)

Kitbag^b1²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Tommie Jakes⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss L A Perratt| OR: 47| D

12/1

Bit below form fifth of 14 in handicap at Redcar (6f, soft, 16/1) 27 days ago. Blinkers replace usual visor.

Form: 065765

(5)

Metal Beau²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: J P Sullivan| T: Sarah Hollinshead| OR: 44

200/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 11/1, eleventh of 12 in handicap at Wolverhampton (6.1f) 20 days ago. Makes turf debut and others more convincing kept to 6f.

Form: 86-450

(1)

Secret Daay^b³²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Connor Beasley| T: D Thompson| OR: 46

16/1

Remains a maiden after 22 Flat runs. Fourth of 7 in handicap at Catterick (7f, soft, 15/2) 32 days ago. Has work to do.

Form: 328384

(20)

See My Baby Jive^b¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: Jason Hart| T: D W Whillans| OR: 48| D

11/1

Modest mare. Ninth of 10 in handicap (28/1) at Carlisle (5.8f, good) 14 days ago, very slowly away. Risky proposition given issues at the stalls.

Form: 427-869

(2)

Variety Island^p¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Phil Dennis| T: S Whitaker| OR: 48| D

9/1

Respectable fifth of 11 in handicap at Catterick (7f, good to firm, 9/1) 16 days ago. Can give a good account.

Form: 991665

(4)

Calafrio²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: A Mullen| T: P A Kirby| OR: 49

16/1

Modest filly. Fifth of 6 in handicap at Carlisle (6.9f, good to soft, 11/4) 25 days ago.

Form: 5579-45

(15)

Just Typical^h⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: C Lee| T: Ian Williams| OR: 46

33/1

Thrice-raced maiden. 125/1 and hooded for first time, eleventh of 12 in minor event at Nottingham (6.1f, good to firm) 44 days ago.

Form: 090

(8)

Thea Bell^p1¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Harry Russell| T: B Ellison| OR: 37

250/1

80/1, last of 10 in handicap at Beverley (7.4f, good to firm) 16 days ago. Cheekpieces on for first time.

Form: 7680

Non-Runners

(18)

Blue Jay Way¹⁹

Weight: 9-9| Age: 4

T: J Riches J: Non Runner

(12)

War Zone⁵³

Weight: 9-2| Age: 3

T: C Banham J: Joey Haynes

Forecasts

Ben Dikduk (11/2), Eternal Sunshine (6/1), Gidwa (17/2), Ustath (9/1), Variety Island (9/1), Flavius Titus (10/1), Bernie The Bear (11/1), See My Baby Jive (11/1), Irish Dancer (11/1), Kitbag (12/1), War Zone (14/1), Calafrio (16/1), Secret Daay (16/1), Glorious Rio (25/1), Birdie Bowers (33/1), Delagate The Lady (33/1), Just Typical (33/1), Blue Jay Way (100/1), Metal Beau (200/1), Thea Bell (250/1)

Quantity over quality here with a chance taken on ETERNAL SUNSHINE back up in trip with a high draw usually no bad thing over 6f. Ben Dikduk and Ustath can call upon recent winning form so have more going for them than most.