16:45 York

Wednesday 11 May 2022

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:15

Conundrum HR Consulting Handicap

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 2m 34.01s

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(10)

Furzig²⁰⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 85| BF| D

33/1

Successful three times last season, the latest in a four-runner affair at Catterick (1½m, good to firm) in September. However, well held off this mark over the same C&D when last seen a month later and entitled to come on for the run.

Form: 135816-

(6)

Pearl Beach²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: D Tudhope| T: W J Knight| OR: 85| D

8/1

Signed off truncated 2021 campaign on a winning note at Newcastle (12.4f), and good start to this season when going close at Wolverhampton (1¾m) last month. On the downside, she's now on a career-high mark and is 0-7 on turf.

Form: 23531-2

(8)

Midrarr^t³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Ben Robinson| T: B Ellison| OR: 81| D

20/1

Landed back-to-back Wolverhampton handicaps for William Haggas last term, and creditable third tried over 2m here in October. Decent start for this yard back at Wolverhampton in April and she's not discounted.

Form: 11636-3

(7)

Just In Time^p²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: J Fanning| T: A King| OR: 80| D

25/1

Healthy strike rate on turf (5-17) but latest success was gained back in September 2018 and though given a chance by the handicapper, others make greater appeal.

Form: 84-3260

(12)

Highwaygrey³²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: J P Sullivan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 80

7/1

Bagged four 1¼m handicaps at Pontefract in 2020 and added another on second run of last term over the same trip at Doncaster. Rather in-and-out since, but better than the bare result both starts this season and he's slipped to an attractive mark.

Form: 3525-07

(1)

Bollin Margaret²²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 80| D

66/1

Enjoyed a profitable campaign last season, winning three on the bounce in June and notched another success at Ayr (1¼m, good to firm) in September. Found out off this mark on final start of 2021, though, and yard saddles a stronger candidate in Highwaygrey.

Form: 703719-

(14)

Kihavah⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Ryan Sexton⁽⁷⁾| T: A Keatley| OR: 79

7/2

Fairly useful hurdler (twice a winner over timber this year) and clear second back in this sphere at Beverley last month. By no means disgraced at Chester (12.3f, good) since and he's not without each-way hope.

Form: 338-26

(5)

Qaasid²¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: S M Levey| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 79

10/1

Winner of a Kempton novice at 2 yrs for Sir Michael Stoute and fair efforts in a couple of handicaps last June. However, little impact in two starts for new yard at the backend of last season and it's easy enough to look elsewhere.

Form: 31/3450-

(13)

El Picador¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 78| D

9/1

Winner of the second of his two starts last season and back in the winning groove when taking a six-runner Musselburgh handicap (12.5f, good) recently. 4 lb rise tolerable and no surprise if he's on the premises here.

Form: 31-6301

(9)

Kasperenko^v⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: David Egan| T: E J Alston| OR: 77| CD

33/1

Narrow winner of a C&D apprentices' handicap on debut for Eric Alston in September. Now 1 lb below that winning mark, but subsequent efforts not so good and he's essentially opposable.

Form: 74-9367

(4)

Obsidian Knight²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: T Kent| OR: 76| BF| D

9/2

Made it third time lucky when accounting for nine rivals under Jim Crowley in a Lingfield novice (1½m, AW) in February. Failed to fire over the same C&D last time, but Crowley back in the hot-seat for this turf debut and he's one for the shortlist.

Form: 25-150

(3)

Robert Walpole^h²²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Callum Shepherd| T: R Varian| OR: 74

11/2

Off the mark in a 1m Southwell handicap in March and respectable second back on turf upped to 1¼m at Yarmouth (good to firm) last month. This keen-going sort is far from certain to relish the additional increase in trip here, though.

Form: 5/4-2152

(11)

Tommaso⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: S De Sousa| T: P A Kirby| OR: 63

14/1

Failed to make an impact in handicaps at Ayr and Doncaster upon joining this yard in the autumn. Successful over hurdles since, but 3 lb 'wrong' at the weights returned to this sphere and he makes limited appeal.

Form: 334587-

Non-Runners

(2)

Eagle Court²⁵

Weight: 9-5| Age: 5

T: T Ward J: Tom Marquand

Forecasts

Kihavah (7/2), Obsidian Knight (9/2), Robert Walpole (11/2), Highwaygrey (7/1), Pearl Beach (8/1), El Picador (9/1), Qaasid (10/1), Eagle Court (10/1), Tommaso (14/1), Midrarr (20/1), Just In Time (25/1), Kasperenko (33/1), Furzig (33/1), Bollin Margaret (66/1)

The last six runnings of this handicap have been won by 4-y-os and OBSIDIAN KNIGHT is taken to uphold that trend on his turf debut. He completely misfired at Lingfield last time, but that was too bad to be true and he remains with potential. Eagle Court's reappearance effort over a trip short of his best at Newbury was encouraging and he is respected with that run under his belt, while Highwaygrey, who has been given a chance by the handicapper, and Midrarr are others to consider.