19:45 Thirsk

Friday 18 August 2023

All16:1816:5317:2518:0018:3519:1019:4520:20

Ray McLean Memorial Handicap

Off time: 19:46 | Winning time: 2m 37.65s

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Selected odds by:

(14)

Riggsby^p1,t¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: P Mulrennan| T: S England| OR: 60

40/1

Dual AW winner (at 2m) for Julie Camacho who has posted a mixed bag over hurdles for present yard, failing to stay when well held fifth of 7 at Market Rasen (23f) 12 days ago. Cheekpieces added to tongue tie back on the level and Paul Mulrennan an eye-catching booking.

Form: 48089-2

(2)

Bouncing Bobby⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: D Nolan| T: M Todhunter| OR: 57| D

22/1

Doubled career tally returning from 5 months off at Hamilton (12f) in June, responding well having been off the bridle long way out. Not in same form back there later that month but given more of a break ahead of this.

Form: 432-016

(10)

Jamih⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: Mark Winn⁽³⁾| T: Miss T Jackson| OR: 55| CD

6/1

Edged out re-opposing Valley of Flowers when landing this race from a 1 lb higher mark 12 months ago. Holding form well this time around, close-up fourth in a C&D handicap 7 days ago and expected to be in the mix again.

Form: 549424

(6)

Valley Of Flowers^h¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Joanna Mason| T: Samantha & Jacqueline Coward| OR: 55| BF| D

5/1

Latest win at Beverley in June and hard to knock consistency since, settling better than is often the case and finishing off well when close third at Catterick (12f) 10 days ago. Another entitled to be thereabouts.

Form: 215223

(4)

Trailblazer^p³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: P Hanagan| T: A Nicol| OR: 54

28/1

Eighth of 13 in handicap (33/1) at Catterick (15.9f, good to firm) 37 days ago, proving too free. Back down in trip now but others make more appeal.

Form: 073658

(8)

Nakano^v1²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Jason Watson| T: H Palmer| OR: 62

33/1

Not without promise in novice/maiden company but essentially proved disappointing for the switch to handicaps to date. Latest run probably best overlooked in isolation (raced close to strong pace) but visor needs to have positive effect now.

Form: 5-46968

(12)

Prince Achille⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: J Garritty| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 52| BF

3/1

Shed maiden tag at Carlisle (11f) in May. Good second of 11 in handicap (5/2) at this C&D (good to firm) 7 days ago, headed post. Not taken lightly.

Form: U3-3132

(15)

Edwina Sheeran^p²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Jonny Peate⁽³⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 61| D

10/3

3 wins from 7 runs this year. Latest win at Ripon in July. 5/1, good second of 7 in handicap at Leicester (11.8f, soft) 23 days ago, no match for winner. Has good chance on form.

Form: 214112

(7)

Kittykarma^p²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: O J Orr| T: R A Fahey| OR: 60

11/1

Cheekpieces on for 1st time, plugged on without proving a match for the winner when second of 7 in handicap (14/1) at Leicester (11.8f, soft) 23 days ago. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 4-38862

(11)

Optician^p²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 60

9/1

Cheekpieces on for 1st time, fourth of 7 in handicap (12/1) at Leicester (11.8f, soft) 23 days ago, weakening 2f out. Headgear worn then is retained here but he does need to get back on track now.

Form: 0-63264

(5)

Act Of Will^p⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: G Lee| T: D Brooke| OR: 60

40/1

22/1, creditable third of 8 in handicap at Beverley (9.9f, good to soft) 41 days ago, carried right under 2f out and staying on. Wouldn't be sure to build on that here. Up in trip.

Form: P67-973

(3)

Mollies Hope^t⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: A Mullen| T: A Crook| OR: 50

150/1

Drew a blank in 2022 and finished well held on the back of 8 months off when tenth of 12 in handicap at Musselburgh (9f) 7 days ago. Can only be watched upped further in trip.

Form: 69766-0

(1)

Tiberio Force^b¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: B A Curtis| T: S Whitaker| OR: 48

20/1

18/1, sixth of 8 in handicap at Catterick (15.9f, good) 10 days ago, never on terms. Return to shorter rates a plus with blinkers refitted but others appeal more for win purposes.

Form: 777346

(9)

Mad Artymaise⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Alex Jary⁽⁷⁾| T: G Boanas| OR: 45

14/1

Maiden who has largely run respectably so far this season, second of 10 in handicap at Beverley (12.1f) on penultimate start. Not disgraced when sixth over C&D last week but suspicion she'll find a few too good again.

Form: 454326

(13)

Stelios²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: Mia Nicholls⁽⁷⁾| T: Phillip Makin| OR: 45

50/1

Modest maiden who was deserving of credit in faring best of those held up when third at Beverley (10f) in June. Not matched that either outing subsequently, well held last of 8 back at that venue 25 days ago.

Form: 555398

Forecasts

Prince Achille (3/1), Edwina Sheeran (10/3), Valley Of Flowers (5/1), Jamih (6/1), Optician (9/1), Kittykarma (11/1), Mad Artymaise (14/1), Tiberio Force (20/1), Bouncing Bobby (22/1), Trailblazer (28/1), Nakano (33/1), Act Of Will (40/1), Riggsby (40/1), Stelios (50/1), Mollies Hope (150/1)

Already successful 3 times this term, EDWINA SHEERAN again ran well in a race that is working out well when second at Leicester 23 days ago and she could be the way to go re-united with her 3 lb claimer. Prince Achille went close over C&D latest and he's a threat, with last year's 1-2 Jamih and Valley of Flowers completing the shortlist.