15:20 Thirsk

Monday 22 June 2020

All12:1512:4513:1513:5014:2014:5015:2015:5016:2516:55

JW 4x4 Northallerton Handicap

Off time: 15:21 | Winning time: 2m 35.65s

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Selected odds by:

(6)

Cape Coast¹⁰²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 90| BF| D

5/1

Won twice in summer of 2017 and looked progressive when twice finishing second in handicaps (include Listed); has missed the thick end of three years since. Remains with Mark Johnston and that must be a positive. Market informative.

Form: 641122/

(5)

Red Force One¹²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Megan Nicholls⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 89

9/2

Fair handicapper for Tom Dascombe in 2018, winning three times at up to 1m2f; won over hurdles at Fakenham in October for this trainer and just run out of it late in Wolverhampton Jumpers Bumper in February. More demanded in this contest.

Form: 1119/22-

(8)

Pilansberg^b,t³⁶⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: M Dwyer| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 88

150/1

Some very promising French Flat form back in 2015 but eventually lost way over hurdles with Paul Nicholls; highly-tried in three Flat runs with this yard last summer but handicapper has offered some leeway now. Betting check demanded.

Form: 430/U49-

(1)

Grandee¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: B A Curtis| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 85| D

11/4

Just two wins in 28 starts on turf but outran odds on return at Newmarket (1m4f, good to firm; 16-1) recently in finishing third; could have further aspirations now if building on that promising effort.

Form: 34635-3

(7)

Groveman¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: J Garritty| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 85| D

4/1

Caught late on at Pontefract (1m4f, good; 13-2) this month having forced the running (fourth in the end); stronger grade this time from same mark and should be in the mix once more.

Form: 5/52-214

(4)

Sassie²⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Nathan Evans| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 82| D

12/1

Successful on turf for the first time since May 2018 when keeping on strongly to beat Orin Swift by 3L at York (2m+, soft) last October; 3lb higher on her fifth start for the effervescent Mick Easterby and entitled to her claims.

Form: 345351-

(2)

Gabrial The One²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Barry McHugh| T: R A Fahey| OR: 81| D

9/2

Winner this month on the all-weather at Newcastle (1m4½f); doing so fairly decisively in the end. 3lb higher back on turf; strong stayer and will relish if this is run at a decent clip.

Form: 25424-1

(3)

Regal Mirage¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-5| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 74| D

22/1

Fine strike-rate on turf (8-32) and won twice last season before ending on low-note at Pontefract. Back on previous win-mark now and should see plenty benefit from spin around Newcastle earlier in the month. Known to throw in the towel on occasion.

Form: 17147-5

Non-Runners

(9)

Bolder Bob²¹

Weight: 9-4| Age: 6

T: Grant Tuer J: D C Costello

Forecasts

Grandee (11/4), Groveman (4/1), Gabrial The One (9/2), Red Force One (9/2), Cape Coast (5/1), Sassie (12/1), Bolder Bob (12/1), Regal Mirage (22/1), Pilansberg (150/1)

Cape Coast is the wildcard in here, he looked progressive when last spotted but that was in 2017. He's still with Mark Johnston, that's a positive, but he may well come on for this first day back at school. Gabrial The One stays further and comes here off a pleasing win on the Tapeta at Newcastle that puts him in the mix but there was plenty to like in GRANDEE's comeback third at Newmarket. He looked likely to improve for it and the winner has gone in again since, so he gets the nod. Groveman is in form while Sassie won in the autumn from 3lb lower and isn't discounted.