18:00 York

Friday 28 July 2017

All18:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Think As One Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 18:00 | Winning time: 1m 49.5s

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Selected odds by:

(9)

In First Place¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Sebastian Woods⁽⁷⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 78

9/2

Went well here over the extended 1m2f last time out and has largely been consistent in five successive defeats this season. Same mark today as last time, so will probably need to pull out a bit more but very much one with each-way claims.

Form: 1-34643

(3)

Brother McGonagall¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Robert Dodsworth⁽⁷⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 76| D

4/1

The step up to around 1m has been the making of him this season and he has now risen 16lb in the ratings for winning three of his last four starts. including over a similar trip to this at Carlisle last time. Goes on most ground, still improving and looks a player despite another 6lb rise.

Form: 731131

(5)

Breanski¹⁰^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Patrick Vaughan⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 69

11/2

Came good at the sixth attempt when scoring over 1m at Thirsk last week (1m, good to firm). Stays at least this far and connections opt to run him under a penalty here. Runner-up at Thirsk did little for the form when reappearing at Haydock last Saturday, so this gelding still has a bit more to prove.

Form: 600-221

(6)

Mount Rock⁵¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Megan Nicholls| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 73

12/1

Showed promise on his first two starts, though couldn't build on that when last seen at Ripon in June. Mark looks tough enough to start handicapping from, even on the best of those efforts, but given the yard's record at this track a market check would be prudent.

Form: 4-56

(4)

Rinaria^h,t1³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: P J O'Hanlon⁽⁷⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 72

8/1

Scored over a similar trip at Beverley in April in a maiden auction contest (good to firm) and has put in a couple of decent handicapping runs together at Wetherby and more recently, Pontefract. This trip on a flat track should suit, though judging by her handicap debut she wouldn't want much rain.

Form: 21042

(7)

Zehrah²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 70

9/2

Looking to be closing in on a first win when making the frame over 1m2f at Nottingham (good) last time. Same mark here and slight drop in trip might also help. Has it to prove on anything but fast ground, but if she handles conditions then she has each-way claims.

Form: 62763

(1)

Our Greta²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Ray Dawson⁽³⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 66

10/1

Had the speed to win over 5f (good to soft) at Thirsk last season but was unable to add any nursery/handicap success to that over sprint trips. Stepped up to 1m last time, she ran well at Haydock (good to firm) and a 1lb drop makes her very interesting now tried over an extra furlong.

Form: 1050-83

(2)

Buccaneers Cove⁹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: Connor Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 63

8/1

Quite a consistent performer, though nothing that he has produced so far has been good enough for gold. Was a bit fizzy over 1m on his reappearance at Pontefract, but that can be excused after six months off, so should be able to do better today.

Form: 3303-8

Non-Runners

(8)

Ahlan Bil Zain²³

Weight: 9-7| Age: 3

T: D M Simcock J: George Buckell

Forecasts

Brother McGonagall (4/1), In First Place (9/2), Zehrah (9/2), Breanski (11/2), Rinaria (8/1), Buccaneers Cove (8/1), Our Greta (10/1), Ahlan Bil Zain (10/1), Mount Rock (12/1)

Ahlan Bil Zain looks well worth another try over this sort of trip and has claims here, while In First Place, Breanski and Zehrah are others to consider. Our Greta could go very well now stepped up in trip and dropped 1lb and she is not ruled out, but BROTHER MCGONAGALL keeps answering the calls of the handicapper and he may still be good enough to do that here.