16:55 York

Friday 14 July 2023

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2516:5517:30

Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Handicap

Off time: 16:58 | Winning time: 58.26s

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Selected odds by:

(20)

Ventura Express²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: D Nolan| T: P T Midgley| OR: 84| D

17/2

Scored in good style at Pontefract (5f, good) in May prior to hitting the crossbar at Doncaster. Held at Chester last time but probably remains in form. Done no favours by the draw, however.

Form: 7-48127

(18)

Elegant Erin¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: J P Sullivan| T: P T Midgley| OR: 83| D

14/1

Four-time winner last season and very much caught the eye returning from 10 months off in hot handicap at Newcastle recently, getting no sort of run. 2 lb lower here and very much one to note for all Graham Lee switches to Spring Is Sprung.

Form: 15331-9

(21)

Khabib^p⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: P Mulrennan| T: R Craggs| OR: 82| D

18/1

Three-time winner on AW last year and finished with running left on return at Musselburgh last week. One to consider.

Form: 22-8535

(15)

Papa Don't Preach⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Rossa Ryan| T: K Frost| OR: 81| D

14/1

Capitalised on a falling mark at Newcastle in January and arrives here in good heart, not beaten far in the Epsom Dash 6 weeks ago despite hanging. Dropped 2 lb.

Form: 106257

(1)

Glory Fighter^p⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: Ryan Sexton⁽³⁾| T: P T Midgley| OR: 80| D

18/1

Back to winning ways in first-time cheekpieces in 5f Catterick handicap last month and ran well after 8 lb rise at Musselburgh last week. Bit more needed from stall 1.

Form: 06-3313

(4)

Copper Knight^p,t⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-10| J: Sean Kirrane⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 80| CD

11/1

6-time C&D winner (joint winning-most horse at York in training). In the doldrums since latest success at Chester last summer under this rider but could be worth one more chance in a change of headgear.

Form: 469087

(8)

Princess Karine⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Mark Winn⁽³⁾| T: B Smart| OR: 78| BF| D

4/1

Convincing winner of 5f Carlisle handicap last month and ran well despite failing to land a gamble at Beverley a week ago. Needs another step forward to defy this mark on that showing.

Form: 332214

(17)

Spring Is Sprung²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: G Lee| T: P T Midgley| OR: 78| D

18/1

Dual winner who ran a screamer in good C&D handicap in May and not beaten far again at Musselburgh since. 1 of 5 for Paul Midgley and seemingly the pick of Graham Lee. Respected.

Form: 640-444

(5)

Dandy Dinmont¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Alex Jary⁽⁷⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 78| BF| D

14/1

Plenty of good runs this year, wasting no time getting back to best having been well backed when edged out by Nelson Gay at Newcastle a fortnight ago. Interesting with yard's 7 lb apprentice up for the first time.

Form: 234252

(19)

Havagomecca^p²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR: 77| D

33/1

Back to winning ways at Musselburgh (5f) in May but form has rather dipped since and Nelson Gay looks stronger for yard.

Form: 1-01485

(9)

Le Beau Garcon³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: S A Gray| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 77| D

10/1

Dual winner as a juvenile and back to his best when third in a big field at Beverley last month, starting better and keeping on. Suspect it's only a matter of time before he wins a handicap.

Form: 508-033

(2)

Mattice^p¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 77| D

9/2

Dual winner last season and creditable efforts the last twice. Plenty of good runs here to his name and could go well.

Form: 5-66944

(12)

Mersea³⁷¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: S H James| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 81| CD

28/1

C&D novice winner last term and ran well here on her final start. More needed now handicapping on first outing for a year but gets the 3-y-o allowance.

Form: 231193-

(14)

Lullaby Bay⁵⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 76| D

16/1

Got a hat-trick up in 5f handicaps last spring and possibly working her way back for new yard this term. Down another 3 lb and wouldn't rule out a revival.

Form: 524-009

(22)

Dickieburd^p1²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: C Lee| T: Craig Lidster| OR: 78| D

33/1

Profile largely disappointing since winning at Chester last year, running well at Epsom on Derby Day but proving very disappointing at Musselburgh since. Headgear goes on.

Form: 18-6636

(10)

Good Luck Fox⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Cam Hardie| T: P T Midgley| OR: 72| D

28/1

Split Glory Fighter and Le Beau Garcon when running well at Catterick last month but down the field at Haydock last time, using up energy early after missing the break.

Form: 40-0255

(7)

Texas Man¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: William Pyle⁽⁷⁾| T: Craig Lidster| OR: 72| D

66/1

Three-time winner for Paul Midgley but out of form this year, again finishing well held for new yard at Musselburgh 11 days ago.

Form: 20-7065

(6)

Mereside Angel¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: T D Barron| OR: 72| D

11/1

Scored at Ayr last month and back to form when going close at Musselburgh 11 days ago. This is tougher and he was well beaten in 2 runs here last term.

Form: 323152

Non-Runners

(13)

Sampers Seven¹⁶

Weight: 9-10| Age: 6

T: M Appleby J: Frederick Larson

(3)

Nelson Gay¹⁴

Weight: 9-9| Age: 5

T: M Dods J: Connor Beasley

(16)

So Smart²

Weight: 9-6| Age: 4

T: P D Evans J: B A Curtis

(11)

Eeh Bah Gum¹³

Weight: 9-6| Age: 8

T: I Furtado J: Laura Coughlan

Forecasts

Princess Karine (4/1), Mattice (9/2), Nelson Gay (15/2), Ventura Express (17/2), Le Beau Garcon (10/1), Copper Knight (11/1), Mereside Angel (11/1), Sampers Seven (12/1), Elegant Erin (14/1), Dandy Dinmont (14/1), Papa Don't Preach (14/1), Eeh Bah Gum (14/1), Lullaby Bay (16/1), So Smart (16/1), Spring Is Sprung (18/1), Khabib (18/1), Glory Fighter (18/1), Mersea (28/1), Good Luck Fox (28/1), Havagomecca (33/1), Dickieburd (33/1), Texas Man (66/1)

He's badly out of form but COPPER KNIGHT, joint-holder of the title of winning-most horse at York, has been used to contesting much stronger handicaps than this here and could be worth one more chance from a mark 17 lb lower than for his last success at Chester a year ago under Sean Kirrane. Paul Midgley runs 5, with Elegant Erin and Spring Is Sprung strong contenders. Nelson Gay is another to consider.