17:20 York

Saturday 20 August 2022

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Sky Bet Finale Handicap

Off time: 17:21 | Winning time: 2m 7.1s

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Selected odds by:

(2)

Soto Sizzler^p²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: Callum Hutchinson⁽⁵⁾| T: D Menuisier| OR: 105| D

33/1

Enhanced excellent record at Epsom when landing 1¼m handicap in April. Good second back there at the Derby meeting but not at best on both subsequent starts, 7 lengths fifteenth to Forest Falcon at Glorious Goodwood on latest. Stable won this race last year.

Form: 1-71250

(13)

Forest Falcon²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: W Buick| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 101| D

16/1

Won Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar in June and posted a career-best effort in the opening race of Glorious Goodwood last month. Unable to repeat that effort there 4 days later (far too involved in setting the strong pace to last home) so likely he will bounce back here.

Form: 218010

(1)

Lucander²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Rob Hornby| T: R M Beckett| OR: 99| CD

11/1

Won this corresponding event in 2020 and fourth last year. Stepped up plenty on return to score eased in class at Windsor (10f) in May and having wasted no time getting back on track returned to this track last month, he should be in the mix once again.

Form: 22-7153

(12)

Chichester^p²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 97| D

28/1

Won 3 times last year but hasn't really kicked on from his reappearance third in a listed event at Kempton, not ideally placed the way the race developed when third at Doncaster 3 weeks ago. Mark eases 3 lb but percentage call is to look elsewhere.

Form: 0-36003

(3)

Spirit Dancer²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: O J Orr| T: R A Fahey| OR: 97| CD

4/1

Has returned an improved model this year, building on his promising John Smith's Cup effort to open his account for the season over C&D just over 4 weeks ago. This more competitive but he has to remain of interest up 4 lb.

Form: 49-8241

(8)

Caradoc²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: Tom Marquand| T: E Walker| OR: 92| D

10/1

Hasn't won since 2019 but has shaped better than the result on multiple occasions. However excuses were hard to come by at Glorious Goodwood last time and while he's proving expensive to follow, he's lurking on a handy mark if getting the breaks.

Form: 524788

(5)

Phantom Flight⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: P J McDonald| T: James Horton| OR: 98

3/1

Improved with each outing for up-and-coming yard, second on debut at Newcastle prior to landing back-to-back turf novice contests (at 1m). As expected had no issue with the longer trip when third on handicap bow at Newmarket last month and he hasn't yet shown all he can.

Form: 2113

(14)

Special Envoy²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 98| D

3/1

Built on debut promise to open his account at Windsor in June and resumed winning ways switched to a handicap back there just under 4 weeks ago, well positioned and scoring with a bit up his sleeve. This tougher but it remains early days and he couldn't be in better hands.

Form: 2121

(11)

Piecederesistance²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Hollie Doyle| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 88| D

12/1

Fairly useful in France for Andre Fabre and confirmed the promise of his Flat debut for this yard when scoring at Pontefract last month, finding plenty to hold off the persistent runner-up having led early in straight. This much tougher but he's still relatively unexposed.

Form: 13/33-21

(6)

Cockalorum¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 8-8| J: Jonny Peate⁽⁵⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 87| D

14/1

Consistent performer who is now twelve runs since his last success. Ran creditably having been given more of a break when seventh at Doncaster earlier this month and he's lurking on a handy mark having been third in this last year from 12 lb higher.

Form: P44987

(4)

Geremia¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: Cam Hardie| T: J S Goldie| OR: 85

28/1

Is going through a good spell at present, runner-up over 2m here last month before spoiling his chance with an even tardier start than normal at Doncaster 16 days ago, not beaten that far in ninth place. Should go well once again.

Form: 380229

(10)

Oneforthegutter²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: David Egan| T: Ian Williams| OR: 92

33/1

More encouraging signs when mid-field on handicap debut at Epsom in June but beaten a fair way on both subsequent starts. Hopes pinned on this significant step back up in trip sparking a revival.

Form: 26-4600

Non-Runners

(9)

Injazati¹³⁷

Weight: 9-5| Age: 4

T: C Fellowes J: Non Runner

(7)

Fishable⁴⁷

Weight: 8-10| Age: 5

T: T D Easterby J: D Allan

Forecasts

Phantom Flight (3/1), Special Envoy (3/1), Spirit Dancer (4/1), Injazati (6/1), Caradoc (10/1), Lucander (11/1), Piecederesistance (12/1), Cockalorum (14/1), Forest Falcon (16/1), Fishable (25/1), Geremia (28/1), Chichester (28/1), Oneforthegutter (33/1), Soto Sizzler (33/1)

An ultra-competitive closer to the Sky Bet Ebor Festival but it's hard to ignore the claims of INJAZATI. He was unable to justify strong market support on reappearance in April, and it's taken some time to get him back to the track but he was highly progressive last year so he gets the verdict to resume winning ways. Phantom Flight hasn't yet shown all he can so he may emerge as the main danger for his up-and-coming trainer, with recent C&D winner Spirit Dancer another fancied to go well.