Sky Bet Go-Racing-In-Yorkshire Summer Festival Handicap

Off time: 15:53 | Winning time: 2m 4.78s

(2)

Midnight Strike^p,t¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: S De Sousa| T: J Candlish| OR: 80

13/2

Useful at his peak in Ireland. Struggled to get competitive in handicaps and made the most of a big drop in grade fitted with headgear when landing 3-runner seller at Beverley 2 weeks ago. Needs to improve on that level in a deeper race.

Form: 0-00081

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(6)

Qitaal¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: Connor Beasley| T: C Johnston| OR: 76| D

2/1

On a losing run but turned in his best effort of the season dropped in grade when second of 7 in a C&D handicap last month. Cast aside a lesser effort at Beverley when third at Ayr 2 weeks ago and this is a slight drop in class.

Form: 425233

(3)

Yermanthere¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 68| CD

4/1

Snapped a long losing run when winning 7-runner C&D handicap last month, well served by the sound gallop and beating Qitaal by a head. Sound second at Pontefract 11 days later and he can remain very competitive.

Form: 55-0512

(4)

Wild Violet³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: O J Orr| T: M L W Bell| OR: 77| D

5/2

Similar form all 3 starts, shedding maiden status at Salisbury over this trip a month ago. Opening mark isn't obviously generous but she's not yet exposed.

Form: 321

(1)

Lucky Hero³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Mark Winn| T: D O'Meara| OR: 76

17/2

Got off the mark in 5-runner novice at Redcar on return in April (7f) but unable to continue the good work in a pair of handicaps since. Stamina for this far has to be taken on trust.

Form: 238-104

(5)

Poet's Dawn^p¹²

Age: 11| Weight: 9-2| J: Sean Kirrane| T: T D Easterby| OR: 66| CD

10/1

Veteran who capitalised on a career-low mark in good style over C&D in May and added a 9f Musselburgh win last month. Rather in-and-out since but just 1 lb above that winning mark.

Form: 141663

Forecasts

Qitaal (2/1), Wild Violet (5/2), Yermanthere (4/1), Midnight Strike (13/2), Lucky Hero (17/2), Poet's Dawn (10/1)

The C&D race QITAAL finished second to Yermanthere looks the key piece of form here, with the Charlie Johnston inmate tentatively selected to reverse the form. 3-y-o Wild Violet is at a different stage of her career and is a potential improver in handicaps.