15:00 York

Thursday 24 August 2023

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

Clipper Handicap (Heritage Handicap)

Off time: 15:04 | Winning time: 1m 34.87s

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Selected odds by:

(18)

Blue For You^v²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 105| CD

13/2

Resumed winning ways over C&D in July but he came in only tenth of 20 in handicap at Goodwood (8f, soft) 20 days ago. Took this contest 12 months ago so no surprise if he bounced back.

Form: 70-5010

(7)

Escobar^t¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 9-11| J: James Doyle| T: D O'Meara| OR: 104| CD

25/1

Smart performance when winning 7f Ascot handicap last October. Yet to scale same heights this season but this C&D winner can't be discounted off a falling mark.

Form: 440008

(12)

Sonny Liston^b²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: R L Moore| T: R M Beckett| OR: 102

10/1

Useful 7f winner for Charlie Hills. Yet to score for Ralph Beckett but excellent second in Ascot's Royal Hunt Cup and posted another good effort when fifth of 20 in Golden Mile at Goodwood 20 days ago. Solid claims off a 2 lb lower mark.

Form: 79-9205

(6)

Northern Express²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods| OR: 101| C| D

13/2

Consistent sort who has bagged Thirsk Hunt Cup and 7f handicap here this term. Good fourth of 25 in International at Ascot (7f, good to soft) 26 days ago so he can go well again eased 1 lb.

Form: 513314

(4)

Akhu Najla²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: David Egan| T: R Varian| OR: 97| BF| D

7/1

Impressive winner of 1m Yarmouth maiden last April. Lightly raced since but he shaped well after 10 months off when fourth of 9 in 1m handicap at Ascot 26 days ago, needing stronger gallop. May do better still so he merits consideration.

Form: 2/138-4

(9)

Eilean Dubh^t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 96| CD

10/1

Enjoyed a fine 2022 and back to winning ways in first-time tongue tie at Hamilton (1m) in July. Well held in Golden Mile at Goodwood 20 days ago but he's very much the sort to bounce back.

Form: 603130

(14)

Point Lynas^h⁶⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: E Bethell| OR: 96| CD

9/1

Scored at Newcastle in March and has continued in good nick, ridden too aggressively when fourteenth of 30 in Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot 64 days ago. Not taken lightly after a break.

Form: 0-16220

(8)

Ropey Guest^v²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: T P Queally| T: G G Margarson| OR: 95| D

40/1

Resumed winning ways at Goodwood in May but turned in a rare below-par effort when fifteenth of 25 in International at Ascot 26 days ago. Still needs considering.

Form: 4-01020

(11)

Orbaan^t⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 94| CD

12/1

C&D winner who wasn't disgraced when fifth of 11 in handicap at Sandown (8f, good) 4 days ago. Possibilities.

Form: 409795

(5)

Darkness^v²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: N Callan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 94| D

16/1

Gained a first success for this yard when landing 1m Newmarket handicap in July. Backed it up with a good fourth of 20 in Golden Mile at Goodwood 20 days ago. Should remain competitive off the same mark.

Form: 622714

(16)

Cruyff Turn⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 94| CD

28/1

Back to winning ways at Redcar in June and not discredited when ninth of 15 in Bunbury Cup at Newmarket since. Took this prize in 2021 so he's one for the shortlist.

Form: 9-87019

(20)

La Trinidad⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Jonny Peate⁽³⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 94| CD

40/1

C&D winner who also scored at Doncaster in June. Below-par fifth of 11 to Blue For You over C&D last time though so needs to bounce back.

Form: 283-315

(2)

Austrian Theory⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Jason Hart| T: C Johnston| OR: 93| D

40/1

Won at Epsom in June and has continued in good form, seventh of 11 in 1m handicap at Sandown 4 days ago. No forlorn hope.

Form: 031747

(15)

Dutch Decoy²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Oliver Stammers| T: C Johnston| OR: 93| D

14/1

Five-time 7f/1m winner in 2022. Added to his tally at Newmarket in July before recording a good third of 20 in Golden Mile at Goodwood 20 days ago. In the mix again.

Form: 422313

(13)

The Gatekeeper²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: W Buick| T: C Johnston| OR: 92

12/1

Dual 7f scorer at Newcastle and Newmarket early this season. Very good second in Golden Mile at Goodwood 20 days ago. Can make his presence felt again off the same mark.

Form: 603022

(10)

Spirit Catcher^h⁵^{(ex 6)}

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: J Fanning| T: C Johnston| OR: 86| BF| D

14/1

Quirky sort who ran out an emphatic winner of 1m handicap at Ripon 5 days ago. This demands more but he's still much respected under a 6 lb penalty.

Form: 228781

(1)

Racingbreaks Ryder²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: R Kingscote| T: C Hills| OR: 97| D

28/1

Completed a four-timer at Ascot (7f) in May but too free when well held in Britannia at Ascot and Golden Mile at Goodwood since. Considered now back over 7f.

Form: 1-11100

(3)

Master Richard^p1¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Oisin Murphy| T: Mrs A Duffield| OR: 90| CD

16/1

Generally progressive (scored at Newcastle in May) and comes here on the back of a very good second of 9 in 7f handicap at Newmarket 12 days ago. Not discounted in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 219-102

(17)

Terwada²⁷^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Tom Marquand| T: E Walker| OR: 90| D

14/1

Fast improving Tamayuz colt who made a winning start in handicaps at Newmarket (1m) last month, well on top at the finish. Highly likely there's more to come so he's a player turned out under a 6 lb penalty.

Form: 3411

Non-Runners

(19)

Outbreak²³

Weight: 9-3| Age: 4

T: C Johnston J: Andrea Atzeni

Forecasts

Northern Express (13/2), Blue For You (13/2), Akhu Najla (7/1), Point Lynas (9/1), Sonny Liston (10/1), Eilean Dubh (10/1), The Gatekeeper (12/1), Orbaan (12/1), Spirit Catcher (14/1), Dutch Decoy (14/1), Terwada (14/1), Darkness (16/1), Master Richard (16/1), Escobar (25/1), Racingbreaks Ryder (28/1), Cruyff Turn (28/1), Ropey Guest (40/1), La Trinidad (40/1), Austrian Theory (40/1), Outbreak (50/1)

Plenty in with a shout in this ultra-competitive handicap but Ed Walker's unexposed 3-y-o TERWADA arrives very much on the up so gets the vote under a 6 lb penalty for his convincing Newmarket success. Lots of these bring solid big-race handicap form to the table with Northern Express, The Gatekeeper and Sonny Liston all well in the mix. Last year's victor Blue For You completes the shortlist.