15:25 York

Sunday 8 September 2024

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

PJ Staffing Group Handicap

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 1m 41.18s

(5)

Markoon²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Jim Crowley| T: W J Haggas| OR: 94| BF| D

10/3

Son of Kingman who was 2 from 3 in novice company at up to 1m and he proved too free when sixth of 8 on handicap debut at Newbury (10f) 22 days ago. Not given a hard time when his chance had gone and feasible to think he can resume progress back down in trip.

Form: 51-16

(7)

Old Cock^t²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: E Bethell| OR: 91| D

3/1

Had a blip at Pontefract (1m) in July but upwardly-mobile otherwise, taking his career record to 3-5 at Haydock (1m) 4 weeks ago. Quickly made up into a useful sort and feasible to think the assessor hasn't caught up with him yet. Respected.

Form: 41191

(1)

Marcella^h⁷⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 88

9/1

Chester novice winner (7f, heavy) at 2 yrs who resumed with an improved second in 5-runner conditions' event at Kempton (1m) in April. Exploits mixed in trio of outings subsequently but she ought to find this less demanding than her latest assignment at Royal Ascot in June.

Form: 15-2590

(2)

Apiarist¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 87| C

3/1

Edged ahead late on in valuable sales' race at this track (7f, heavy) on final start at 2 yrs and performed creditably whilst looking no more than averagely treated in handicaps on each of his last 4 starts, fourth in 16-runner C&D event latest. Claims of making the frame again.

Form: 1-53444

(3)

Zain Blue^p1¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: D Egan| T: J Butler| OR: 83| D

4/1

Eased a little in the weights and back on the up when opening his account at Ascot (1m) in July. That race worked out well and he hasn't been disgraced either start since, fifth oof 16 in handicap over C&D 16 days ago. Cheekpieces go on but this mark demands a little more.

Form: 205135

(8)

Amsterdam⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Tom Marquand| T: E Walker| OR: 80

9/1

Definite promise in trio of novice events and much improved when second of 10 on handicap debut at Ascot (7f) 44 days ago, keeping on near finish. Return to this longer trip in his favour on that evidence and unlikely we've seen the best of him yet.

Form: 6-252

Non-Runners

(6)

Harvard Sound⁴⁰

Weight: 9-4| Age: 3

T: Tom Clover J: Rossa Ryan

(4)

Native King¹

Weight: 8-13| Age: 3

T: H Palmer J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Apiarist (3/1), Old Cock (3/1), Markoon (10/3), Zain Blue (4/1), Harvard Sound (5/1), Amsterdam (9/1), Marcella (9/1), Native King (14/1)

OLD COCK has quickly developed into a useful sort, posting a career-best display when winning 9-runner handicap at Haydock 4 weeks ago and, with the prospect of more to come, he gets the nod to defy the handicapper again. Markoon promises to be suited by this drop back in trip and is feared. Amsterdam and Apiarist are others in the mix.