16:15 York

Friday 16 May 2025

All14:1014:4215:1315:4516:1516:5517:30

Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Handicap

Off time: 16:17 | Winning time: 58.72s

(5)

King Of Bears³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: Darragh Keenan| T: George Scott| OR: 92

33/1

Off the mark at second attempt at Newbury during 2-y-o campaign and wasn't disgraced in better company thereafter. However, he offered little on his reappearance following a wind op (also gelded during the winter) starting out for this yard at Newmarket last month.

Form: 7176-9

(6)

Against The Wind²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 92| D

5/1

Newcastle novice winner last June and followed that by finishing a good fifth in a valuable big-field sales race over 6f at the Ebor meeting. Gelded ahead of his reappearance at Thirsk (5f, good) and won that 10-runner handicap in the manner of a sprinter who has more to offer. Big player.

Form: 60150-1

(14)

King Of Light^p1³²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: S H James| T: K R Burke| OR: 92| D

25/1

Fairly useful dual 5f scorer at 2 yrs and no great surprise that he struggled on his reappearance in a French Group 3. Sights now lowered but it could be that his present mark (6 lb higher than for his narrow nursery success at Haydock in September) is a shade too high.

Form: 17417-7

(3)

Loom³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Billy Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 91| D

6/1

Off the mark at Ripon last June and acquitted himself well in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot later that month. Subsequently gelded and didn't shape badly on return/handicap debut at Newmarket (6f, good), a run that was almost certainly needed on the back of 10 months off.

Form: 717-5

(11)

Sudden Flight²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: W Buick| T: R Hughes| OR: 91| D

11/1

Improved on debut form when landing an 8-runner maiden at Southwell (5f) in February. Further progress when going down narrowly to another promising type back from a short break at Wolverhampton last month and he's of interest on this handicap/turf bow with William Buick booked.

Form: 312

(22)

Lexington Blitz²³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: C Lee| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 88| D

16/1

Dual winner over 5f from the front last summer before struggling in Ayr listed race final start. Faced with a more realistic assignment now handicapping but he will nevertheless need to raise his game in order to emerge on top.

Form: 4110-

(8)

Mearall²⁵¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: O J Orr| T: R A Fahey| OR: 88| BF

18/1

Cotai Glory colt who was well backed and overcame inexperience to make a winning debut in comfortable fashion in a 7-runner Ripon novice last summer. Wasn't disgraced in listed company next time but signed 2-y-o campaign off with a disappointing display at Thirsk in September (gelded since).

Form: 137-

(20)

Elouise's Prince¹⁷⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: D Tudhope| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 87| D

20/1

Positives to take from Beverley debut in September and subsequently improved with back-to-back 5f wins at Wolverhampton. Clearly not short of speed and while more will be needed back from a break on this handicap bow, he could easily have more to offer.

Form: 711-

(2)

Storm Call²⁷³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Joanna Mason| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 87| D

66/1

Windsor maiden winner last spring and runner-back there and also at Glorious Goodwood in July. Unsurprisingly found listed company too hot final 2-y-o start (also final run for Karl Burke) and this is probably more her level but, that said, she resumes for new connections on a stiff-looking mark.

Form: 210229-

(16)

Amestris²²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: K Shoemark| T: M L W Bell| OR: 86| DWS

18/1

Followed cosy Lingfield novice success last June with a respectable effort in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot. At that point her future looked pretty bright but there no further progress during the second-half of her 2-y-o campaign. Has undergone a wind op ahead of this handicap debut.

Form: 197823-

(18)

Al Hussar⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Oliver Stammers| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 85| D

50/1

Had a good juvenile campaign, notching third success when landing a 5f Southwell handicap in October. Finished nearer last than first on last week's return at Chester and, though entitled to come on for that, he looks vulnerable.

Form: 80151-9

(12)

The Quiet Gent²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 85| BF

11/2

Half-brother to a couple of useful winners and improved from debut when winning 12-runner 6f Kempton novice in December. Turned over when odds on for her reappearance at Ripon (6f, good to firm) but it was a narrow defeat and she's in good hands to progress now handicapping.

Form: 21-2

(10)

The Man^h²⁶⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: D Egan| T: R Spencer| OR: 84| DWS

14/1

Created a good impression when winning on debut at Southwell (5f) last spring. Found life tougher in better company thereafter and while it's possible that he'll get back on track now handicapping (gelded/undergone a wind op since latest start), others make more appeal all the same.

Form: 1008-

(7)

Just King High^t¹⁹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Tom Marquand| T: Dylan Cunha| OR: 82| DWS

11/1

Kodiac gelding who, having showed ability in a couple of runs on turf during the the autumn, opened his account switched to the AW at Southwell (5f) in November (since undergone wind surgery). That maiden has already thrown up several subsequent winners and mark for this handicap looks fair.

Form: 441-

(17)

Do It Now²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: O McSweeney⁽³⁾| T: A Keatley| OR: 82| D

28/1

Made all in 5f Ripon maiden on third start of 2-y-o campaign and while further progress was not forthcoming in 2024, he didn't shape at all badly when fourth of 10 in the Thirsk handicap won by Against The Wind. Each-way squeak off 1 lb lower here.

Form: 50940-4

(4)

Jm Jhingree^h²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Rowan Scott| T: J S Goldie| OR: 74| D

50/1

Failed to add to Redcar maiden success in half-a-dozen subsequent starts at 2 yrs and again failed to threated onm return/yard debut at Catterick (5f, good). Others preferred.

Form: 70672-5

(19)

Acrisius²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Connor Beasley| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 74| D

16/1

Opened account at fifth time of asking when making all in 4-runner maiden at Brighton (5.3f, good) in September. Reappearance handicap debut near-miss at Doncaster (5f, good) 3 weeks ago was no backward step and he's one to consider.

Form: 95231-2

(21)

Two Shoes²⁵⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Tom Kiely-Marshall⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 74| D

28/1

62,000 gns breeze-up buy who finished strongly to make a winning start to her career at Carlisle (5f, good to firm) last June. Failed to make an impact in 2 subsequent starts, though, and she's likely to come up short here following an 8-month absence.

Form: 194-

(1)

Cape Sovereign¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: S De Sousa| T: K A Ryan| OR: 72

15/2

Made the frame all 4 starts at 2 yrs and, having undergone a wind op (also gelded), he has continued the good work this year, going close in an AW maiden and recent handicap debut at Beverley (5f, good to firm). Looks more consistent than progressive, though and Tom Eaves prefers Against The Wind.

Form: 4334-22

(9)

I'm Next²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 72| D

28/1

Found some improvement on handicap bow Nottingham (5f, heavy) in October, proving 1¾ lengths too strong for the re-opposing Jm Jhingree. Creditable reappearance third was on good ground (unraced on faster) but sizeable step forward will be needed in this tougher race.

Form: 9341-3

(15)

Tuscan Point²⁶⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Cam Hardie| T: R A Fahey| OR: 70

66/1

Blue Point filly who stepped up on his maiden/novice form when fifth in a handicap here over 6f and another upped to 7f at Chester last summer. Struggled in a valuable event here on final 2-y-o start (gelded since) and improvement is needed back at 5f following 8 months off.

Form: 558520-

(13)

Boyne Lady²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Warren Fentiman⁽⁵⁾| T: Roger Fell| OR: 69

20/1

Failed to build on debut promise final 2 starts of 2024 but back on track with solid placed efforts in 6f handicaps at Catterick and Haydock on good/good to firm in April. Showed good speed last time she's not without each-way hope.

Form: 266-32

Forecasts

Against The Wind (5/1), The Quiet Gent (11/2), Loom (6/1), Cape Sovereign (15/2), Just King High (11/1), Sudden Flight (11/1), The Man (14/1), Lexington Blitz (16/1), Acrisius (16/1), Mearall (18/1), Amestris (18/1), Boyne Lady (20/1), Elouise's Prince (20/1), King Of Light (25/1), I'm Next (28/1), Do It Now (28/1), Two Shoes (28/1), King Of Bears (33/1), Jm Jhingree (50/1), Al Hussar (50/1), Storm Call (66/1), Tuscan Point (66/1)

The vote goes to AGAINST THE WIND, who appeals as the type of sprinter that his excellent yard will make hay with in the months ahead. Indeed, he did the job well on his reappearance at Thirsk and a 6 lb rise is by no means prohibitive. Sudden Flight tops the shortlist of several dangers having shown plenty in three runs on the all-weather and more can be expected now handicapping with William Buick aboard. Just King High is third choice ahead of Acrisius and Elouise's Prince.