14:40 Thirsk

Saturday 1 May 2021

All13:3514:1014:4015:1515:5016:2516:55

Cliff Stud Thirsk Hunt Cup Handicap

Off time: 14:41 | Winning time: 1m 36.93s

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(15)

Hortzadar¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 97| D

14/1

Dual 1m winner last term who returned better than ever when third of 18 in Lincoln at Doncaster in March. Draw/track position caught him out at Newmarket (1m) since and best treated as still in form.

Form: 1190-36

(4)

Nugget¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 97| D

9/4

Dual 1m handicap winner as a 3-y-o who built on promising return effort to run out a good winner of the Spring Cup at Newbury (1m) 2 weeks ago. 5 lb rise looks fair and one for the shortlist again.

Form: 1221-31

(12)

Hartswood¹⁷⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 95| C| D

11/1

Course winner who was progressive in handicaps last summer, winning at York (7.8f) prior to a couple of solid in-the-frame efforts, latterly at Doncaster (7f) in November. Mark remains within reach.

Form: 6/31264-

(11)

Astro King²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: R Kingscote| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 95| D

11/4

Low-mileage Kingman colt who dug deep to make it 3 wins from 5 career starts on return at Nottingham (8.3f) early last month. Straightforward sort in excellent hands, so another good showing likely.

Form: 1231-1

(3)

Scottish Summit¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: S H James| T: G A Harker| OR: 95| D

33/1

Added another couple of 1m handicaps to the tally last summer and he arrives here on back of a creditable third of 7 in handicap at Newmarket (1m) 18 days ago. Still, this another tough ask.

Form: 010-603

(9)

Waarif¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: Cam Hardie| T: D O'Meara| OR: 93| D

100/1

Useful handicapper, successful 3 times in a busy 2019 campaign. Missed all of last year and in fairness he was entitled to need last month's Ripon return (well held tenth). This will reveal more.

Form: 41555/9

(10)

On A Session⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Connor Beasley| T: T D Barron| OR: 92

14/1

Useful in Ireland for Aidan Fogarty and produced a promising yard debut effort when runner-up in a Wolverhampton handicap (8.6f) in March. Should give another good account back on turf.

Form: 0/0663-2

(1)

Hayadh¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: Jason Hart| T: Harvey Bastiman| OR: 91| CD

40/1

Won this race from 3 lower mark in 2019 and registered another pair of victories to his tally last summer. Confirmed he still has plenty to offer in 2 starts this spring but mark looks about right.

Form: 4159-64

(6)

Byron's Choice¹⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Ben Robinson| T: M Dods| OR: 90

100/1

Kept busy last summer, cashing in from reduced mark at Catterick (7f, heavy) in October. Some way below that level at Doncaster final start and he may just need this on return.

Form: 354310-

(14)

Queen's Sargent¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 90| C

16/1

Dual course winner who confirmed promise of Doncaster return with a ready success at Catterick 10 days ago, the drop back to the sharp 7f trip ideal. Clearly in good heart but yet to win over this far

Form: 5694-61

(13)

Tom Collins²⁰⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: P J McDonald| T: W J Haggas| OR: 85| D

13/2

Form rather up and down last season, yet he signed off with victory at Pontefract (1m) in October. Subsequently gelded/changed hands for 100,000 gns and he's an intriguing contender.

Form: 994051-

(8)

Global Spirit¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: Megan Nicholls| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 84| D

50/1

Ran right up to best when getting on top final 100 yds at York (7f, soft) in October. Entitled to come on for last month's Redcar return effort but this is a tougher ask again.

Form: 36013-5

(2)

Al Erayg^p,t¹⁷⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-11| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 84| D

66/1

Kept on well to end losing run on turf at Redcar (1m, heavy) in October. 10f seemingly stretched him at Redcar when last seen in November but others make more appeal returning in this line up.

Form: 581724-

(7)

Storting¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: T Hamilton| T: M R Channon| OR: 84| D

18/1

Winner at Pontefract August 2019 but well held sole start last summer. More like it back from another 9 months off at Newbury a couple of weeks ago and that ought to have taken freshness out of him.

Form: 5126/8-6

(16)

Jean Baptiste¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Nicola Currie| T: G Boughey| OR: 83

12/1

Off the mark at Chelmsford (7f) final start for Sir Michael Stoute last autumn and knocking on the door for new stable, just touched off at Nottingham (8.3f) latest. Live each-way player again.

Form: 771-422

Non-Runners

(5)

Acquitted³⁵

Weight: 9-5| Age: 4

T: H Palmer J: Callum Shepherd

Forecasts

Nugget (9/4), Astro King (11/4), Tom Collins (13/2), Acquitted (7/1), Hartswood (11/1), Jean Baptiste (12/1), On A Session (14/1), Hortzadar (14/1), Queen's Sargent (16/1), Storting (18/1), Scottish Summit (33/1), Hayadh (40/1), Global Spirit (50/1), Al Erayg (66/1), Byron's Choice (100/1), Waarif (100/1)

Progressive as a 3-y-o, NUGGET confirmed the promise of his Nottingham reappearance (unlucky in his run) when running out a convincing winner of the Spring Cup at Newbury 2 weeks ago, and on that evidence, another bold bid is in the offing from a 5 lb higher mark. Astro King finished in front of the selection at Nottingham and can feature, with Acquitted and Tom Collins completing the shortlist.