15:00 York

Thursday 21 August 2025

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Clipper Handicap (Heritage Handicap)

Off time: 15:03 | Winning time: 1m 36.77s

(12)

Ancient Rome²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: K Shoemark| T: C Hills| OR: 100| D

40/1

Smart at his best but largely below form this term, including in top big-field handicaps here and at Goodwood on his last two runs. Needs to take a big step forward.

Form: 090300

(3)

Bullet Point²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 100| BF| D

15/8

Progressive sort scored at Newmarket in April and has twice finished an excellent runner-up in big fields at Ascot since, including in the Royal Hunt Cup. This likeable front-runner is a likely player once more from his low draw and handy-looking mark.

Form: 411-122

(16)

Myal⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: C Lee| T: Steph Hollinshead| OR: 99

33/1

On the up this season, scoring at Haydock and Chester, until turning in a rare poor effort when beating only one in 7f Newmarket handicap last month. The type to bounce back quickly though.

Form: 318140

(2)

Northern Express²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: D Egan| T: M Dods| OR: 99| C| D

18/1

Course winner arrives in decent nick without winning in 2025, sixth of 21 in International at Ascot (7f, good to firm) 26 days ago. This likeable sort ought to be thereabouts once more.

Form: 588746

(18)

Urban Lion¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Edward Greatrex| T: J Channon| OR: 98| BF| D

12/1

Improving type landed 1m handicap at Sandown in June and has bettered that form both runs since, a clear third of 10 in handicap at Ascot (8f, good to firm) 12 days ago. Should continue to give a good account.

Form: 4-12153

(7)

Apiarist¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 97| C| D

14/1

Course winner who caught the eye when fourth of 15 in handicap at Galway (7f, soft) 18 days ago, caught further back than ideal and finishing well. Good record here and not taken lightly off an unchanged mark.

Form: 610384

(11)

Remmooz⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: K Stott| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 102| CD

7/2

Improving Blue Point colt built on a god fourth in the Jersey at Royal Ascot to go 3-4 in 9-runner handicap over C&D (good to firm) 40 days ago. Up 4 lb but looks to have more to offer. Interesting.

Form: 1141

(8)

La Trinidad¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: Rowan Scott| T: Roger Fell| OR: 96| CD

33/1

C&D winner comes here in decent nick, fourth of 5 in handicap at Thirsk (8f, good) 19 days ago when needing a stronger gallop. One for the shortlist.

Form: 0-33054

(4)

Aalto^t²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Billy Loughnane| T: Ian Williams| OR: 96

18/1

Went very close to a second successive win in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket but came in a well-held 18th in the International at Ascot later in July. No surprise to see him get back on track here.

Form: 960-920

(14)

Julia Augusta⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Rossa Ryan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 95| D

40/1

It's now 16 runs since her last win in 2022 and she was tongue tied when a below-par seventh of 10 in listed race at Pontefract (8f, good) 44 days ago. Merits consideration if shrugging off that effort.

Form: 579-307

(13)

Old Cock^t⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: E Bethell| OR: 94| CD

10/1

Got back on the up when a cosy C&D scorer in May and shaped encouragingly after two months off when fourth of 9 to Remmooz over C&D 40 days ago. Remains one to be interested in.

Form: 914-014

(17)

Cerulean Bay¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Oisin Murphy| T: D O'Meara| OR: 93

20/1

Winless in 2025 but he got back on track when second of 10 in handicap at Ascot (8f, good to firm) 12 days ago. Can't be discounted with Oisin Murphy now up.

Form: 050702

(1)

Blue For You^v,t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 92| CD

22/1

A 3-time C&D winner (including this in 2022) who comes back here in decent form, eighth of 15 in Golden Mile at Goodwood (8f, good) 20 days ago. One to consider off a 2 lb lower mark.

Form: 307598

(15)

Leadman⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 87

7/1

Scored for his current yard at Newmarket in July and posted an excellent second of 11 in handicap at Newbury (7f, good to firm) 5 days ago, just failing. Big shout off a 1 lb lower mark despite his high draw.

Form: 2-24102

(9)

Duke's Command^h¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: David Probert| T: D O'Meara| OR: 86| D

80/1

Got off the mark at Doncaster in June but below form of late, retried in a hood when sixth of 8 in handicap at Ayr (8f, good to firm) 12 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 712806

(10)

Dutch Decoy^p⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 8-12| J: Callum Shepherd| T: C Johnston| OR: 86| D

50/1

Bagged a pair of 1m handicaps at Newmarket in July and not discredited when fifth of 8 back there 6 days ago. Possibilities.

Form: 411005

(5)

Mythical Guest⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Saffie Osborne| T: G G Margarson| OR: 83| BF

25/1

Quirky sort is on a losing sequence but wasn't disgraced when fifth of 8 in handicap at Windsor (8.1f, firm) 7 days ago. Not one to dismiss.

Form: 228305

Non-Runners

(6)

Sisyphean²⁶

Weight: 9-7| Age: 4

T: K A Ryan J: S A Gray

Forecasts

Bullet Point (15/8), Remmooz (7/2), Leadman (7/1), Sisyphean (15/2), Old Cock (10/1), Urban Lion (12/1), Apiarist (14/1), Northern Express (18/1), Aalto (18/1), Cerulean Bay (20/1), Blue For You (22/1), Mythical Guest (25/1), La Trinidad (33/1), Myal (33/1), Ancient Rome (40/1), Julia Augusta (40/1), Dutch Decoy (50/1), Duke's Command (80/1)

This is wide open but BULLET POINT continues to progress and from a good inside draw this likeable front-runner can gain a deserved victory having been narrowly denied in the Royal Hunt Cup earlier in the summer. David O'Meara saddles five and his handily-weighted Leadman could prove the pick and the chief threat to William Haggas' 4-y-o, although the lightly-raced Remmooz and still upwardly-mobile Old Cock seem sure to have a say too. Urban Lion and Apiarist complete the shortlist.