17:05 York

Saturday 25 May 2024

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

Alf Duffield Memorial Handicap

Off time: 17:05 | Winning time: 1m 26.18s

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Selected odds by:

(13)

Riot^v,t⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Mark Winn⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 85| CD

13/2

Performed with credit all 3 visits here last season and opened his York account at the fourth time of asking when taking a 20-runner C&D handicap (good) 8 days ago. More needed up 6 lb but he's a player all the same.

Form: 338401

(6)

Carnival Zain²⁸⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Aiden Brookes⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 80| D

28/1

Progressive in 2022, winning 5 times, and while he wasn't at his best last season the handicapper has given him a real chance (now 6 lb below last winning mark). Dangerous to discount.

Form: 579805-

(5)

Grant Wood²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: D Nolan| T: P T Midgley| OR: 79| D

33/1

Twice a winner on the AW but record on turf stands at 0-10 after finishing down the field at Thirsk earlier this month.

Form: 3-11069

(17)

Deceiver¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Jim Crowley| T: D & C Kubler| OR: 79| D

14/1

Has acquitted himself well all 4 starts on the AW but efforts on turf not so good and he's opposable, for all that Jim Crowley is a positive booking.

Form: 1932-56

(16)

Billyb²⁷³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: S A Gray| T: Craig Lidster| OR: 77| D

16/1

Signed off 2022 on a winning note but it was a struggle last year and he's probably best watched starting out for new yard following a 9-month absence.

Form: 796907-

(9)

Oso Rapido¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Brandon Wilkie⁽⁵⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 77| D

28/1

Went close over this C&D in October before going one better at Catterick 8 days later. However, it would be something of an understatement to say that he hasn't matched that level of form in 3 appearances so far this season.

Form: 166-007

(15)

Craven^v⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Harry Russell| T: R A Fahey| OR: 76| D

16/1

Just one success from 17 starts thus far but he has been placed on several occasions and recent third to Riot in a big-field C&D handicap was one of his better efforts. Live each-way chance.

Form: 6248-93

(3)

No Nay Nicki²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Connor Murtagh| T: R A Fahey| OR: 76| D

18/1

Put in good shifts over this C&D on a couple of occasions last season before regaining the winning thread at Thirsk in September. Nowhere near her best on return/AW debut at Southwell but her mark is on the slide and she could have a part to play if on-song.

Form: 56518-9

(4)

Danzan^p⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-5| J: Phil Dennis| T: T D Easterby| OR: 76| D

12/1

Ran respectably following 6 months off when third of 13 in handicap at Ripon (6f, heavy) and fared easily the best of those ridden on the speed when filling that same position at Thirsk (6f, soft) next time. However, he was down the pack over C&D behind Riot recently.

Form: 664-330

(7)

Mereside Diva¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Rossa Ryan| T: T D Barron| OR: 76| D

5/1

Enhanced healthy strike rate when taking an 11-runner Haydock handicap on her first run over this trip a fortnight ago. 3 lb rise fair enough and she may well have more to offer at 7f, so there's plenty of cause for optimism.

Form: 1621-61

(18)

Carolus Magnus^t⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Joanna Mason| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 76| D

13/2

Winless since scoring at Newmarket in 2021 (for Andrew Balding) but there have been positives to glean from his efforts this season, most recently over this C&D where he was sixth in the handicap won by Riot. One for the shortlist.

Form: 9960-86

(8)

Feel The Need²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: M Herrington| OR: 74| D

12/1

Hasn't managed to add to Ayr maiden success at 2 yrs but posted his best effort for a while when runner-up at Newcastle (7f) last time. Not without each-way hope.

Form: 305-562

(2)

Northcliff^p¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Sorcha Woods⁽⁷⁾| T: M Murphy & M Keady| OR: 74| D

10/1

In good form since scoring at Wolverhampton (7f) in February, making the frame next 3 starts prior to striking again at Chelmsford last month. Best effort yet when belatedly opening turf account at Ascot (6f, good to firm) a fortnight ago and 4 lb rise is tolerable.

Form: 143311

(12)

Kalganov^p²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR: 74| D

40/1

Back-to-back winner of 7f turf handicaps during the autumn and notched third victory of 2023 on the AW in December. Has found life tougher since, though, and needs to bounce back following a low-key display at Ayr.

Form: 10-5448

(1)

Magical Max^t¹⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Jason Hart| T: I Furtado| OR: 73| C| D

20/1

Newmarket winner last June and posted his best effort since when a close second at Newcastle in November. Blew the start when nearer last than first at Southwell the following month and absent since.

Form: 060250-

(19)

Leap Day^p⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Cam Hardie| T: T D Easterby| OR: 72

50/1

Hit the target at Southwell in December and several creditable efforts in defeat since, not least when fourth of 10 at Thirsk (7f, good to firm) last weekend. Place possibilities.

Form: 422005

(10)

Helter Skelter²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: R Menzies| OR: 71| BF

12/1

Seven-race maiden who has given a good account of himself in handicaps at Doncaster and Ayr this season. Eased 2 lb since latest start and while he needs to pull out something extra to win this, he shouldn't be far away.

Form: 63-4654

(11)

Dreamrocker²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: K Shoemark| T: E Walker| OR: 71| D

10/1

Won a 7f Salisbury novice last summer but no significant impact in a couple of handicaps since, including on return at Yarmouth. Others look stronger.

Form: 617-8

Non-Runners

(14)

Extrication²⁷

Weight: 9-9| Age: 5

T: R A Teal J: K Stott

(20)

Broken Spear²⁸

Weight: 9-4| Age: 8

T: T Coyle & K Wood J: Cieren Fallon

Forecasts

Mereside Diva (5/1), Riot (13/2), Carolus Magnus (13/2), Extrication (8/1), Dreamrocker (10/1), Northcliff (10/1), Feel The Need (12/1), Helter Skelter (12/1), Danzan (12/1), Deceiver (14/1), Broken Spear (14/1), Billyb (16/1), Craven (16/1), No Nay Nicki (18/1), Magical Max (20/1), Carnival Zain (28/1), Oso Rapido (28/1), Grant Wood (33/1), Kalganov (40/1), Leap Day (50/1)

CAROLUS MAGNUS didn't get the rub of the green behind Riot here eight days ago and, granted better luck this time, he could be the answer. Mereside Diva looked very much at home over this trip when scoring at Haydock and she willl be a serious threat if able to back that up here. The hat-trick seeking Northcliff looks sure to give another good account, while Craven is also accorded respect.