Great North Air Ambulance Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 17:49 | Winning time: 1m 12.12s

(1)

Golden Duke²⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Alex Jary| T: N Tinkler| OR: 72| D

10/1

Followed a good run with a below-par one when ninth of 11 in handicap (11/2) at Kempton (6f) 8 months ago. Has often needed his first run of the campaign to put him spot on but he's capable of making an impact from this mark if ready to roll on reappearance.

Form: 546829-

(2)

El Montejean³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Brandon Wilkie| T: M Walford| OR: 69| D

9/2

Pontefract winner last summer but yet to get going in 2024, seventh of 9 in handicap at Beverley (7.4f, soft, 22/1) 38 days ago. Return to forecast quicker ground could help here and he's now only 2 lb above last winning mark.

Form: 421-007

(5)

Music Society²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-5| J: Amie Waugh| T: T D Easterby| OR: 66| C| D

3/1

Losing run stretches back to October 2022 but not disgraced when seventh in a 20-runner York handicap (6f) 3 weeks ago, pushed along under 2f out and running on. This rates much less demanding so worth bearing in mind.

Form: 3-05367

(4)

Runninwild^p1²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Zak Wheatley| T: Mrs A Duffield| OR: 63| CD

7/2

C&D winner who stepped up on his reappearance effort when good sixth of 13 in handicap (18/1) at Thirsk (6f, good to firm) 29 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time and he's lurking on a handy mark if building on that here.

Form: 9497-06

(6)

Giselles Izzy⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Archie Young⁽³⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 62| D

9/2

Latest win at Hamilton in May. Bit below form third of 7 in handicap at Hamilton (6f, good, 11/2) 9 days ago. Comes here very much on a workable mark and interesting if the market speaks in her favour for all each of her 3 turf victories have come at Hamilton.

Form: 781083

(3)

Brian The Snail^p⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 8-12| J: Rhys Elliott⁽⁵⁾| T: P Morris| OR: 59| D

4/1

Shaped as though in need of the run when fifth of 10 in handicap at Ripon (5f) early on last month and possibly still regaining full fitness judged on his Windsor fourth 7 days ago. Finished a good third in this race 12 months ago and he's worth a second look.

Form: 3871-54

Forecasts

Music Society (3/1), Runninwild (7/2), Brian The Snail (4/1), Giselles Izzy (9/2), El Montejean (9/2), Golden Duke (10/1)

Veteran BRIAN THE SNAIL possibly still needed the run when fourth at Windsor 7 days ago and, back on his last winning mark, he could be worth siding with to strike in an open-looking affair. Music Society, eased in class, and Giselles Izzy are others to consider.