17:25 York

Saturday 13 July 2024

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:1516:5017:25

John Smith's Sprint Handicap

Off time: 17:25 | Winning time: 1m 13.5s

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Selected odds by:

(8)

Rock Opera¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: O J Orr| T: R A Fahey| OR: 80| D

15/2

Back to form the last twice, just touched off at Nottingham prior to going one better at Doncaster (6f, good to firm) a fortnight ago. 3 lb rise manageable and likely to be in the thick of things.

Form: 550421

(18)

Elegant Erin¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: D Nolan| T: P T Midgley| OR: 80

16/1

Snapped a losing run on first run following a wind op at Newcastle (5f) recently. Now 3 lb higher in a tougher race but she remains feasibly treated overall and she has to enter calculations.

Form: 546321

(13)

Hierarchy^p,t²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Saffie Osborne| T: J A Osborne| OR: 79| D

12/1

Now 1 lb lower than for his Goodwood success last September and shaped as though back in form at Sandown where he encountered serious traffic problems. Will be a threat granted better luck this time.

Form: 138-670

(9)

Dark Side Thunder^p²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Harrison Shaw| T: Jessica Macey| OR: 78| D

4/1

Fine strike rate on the AW (7-15) and though yet to hit the target on turf, it's hard to fault his latest C&D second in a 20-runner handicap. Live each-way chance.

Form: 5-35142

(5)

Maxi Boy²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: D Tudhope| T: Fionn McSharry| OR: 78| D

20/1

Winless since debut success for Michael Bell in 2019 and largely disappointed for that yard last term. Still, there were positives to take from his first start for this yard/seasonal reappearance at Chester (7f, good) and he's one to consider.

Form: 32679-5

(10)

Mattice^p¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Sean Kirrane| T: T D Easterby| OR: 77| D

8/1

Regained the winning thread at Ripon in May before making the frame in a big-field handicap over this C&D later that month. Didn't do too much wrong at Newcastle (5f) recently but he nevertheless looks vulnerable from a win point of view.

Form: 1-21404

(17)

Treacherous¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 9-5| J: B M Coen| T: E De Giles| OR: 76| D

33/1

No winning machine but runs his race more often than not, and it was a case of fine margins at Salisbury (5f, good to firm) where he narrowly failed 17 days ago. Should make his presence felt.

Form: 42-3442

(2)

Rebel Path⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: S C Williams| OR: 75| D

20/1

Successful on second of his 2 starts in France and produced easily his best effort for present connections when third at Newmarket in May. However, he was slow off the blocks (not for the first time) at Chelmsford last weekend.

Form: 307836

(1)

Danzan^p²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-3| J: Billy Garritty| T: T D Easterby| OR: 74| D

13/2

Winless since striking at Thirsk last June but, on the upside, he's now 5 lb below winning mark and there were encouraging signs when fifth of 20 over C&D. No doubt capable of a bold show.

Form: 4-33005

(7)

As If By Chance³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Alex Jary⁽⁵⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 74| D

33/1

Nottingham winner of this mark last August and has performed with credit on 2 of his 3 starts since returning to action during the spring. Place possibilities.

Form: 900-495

(12)

Oso Rapido²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Tom Kiely-Marshall⁽⁷⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 73| D

40/1

Has fallen a long way in the weights, now 9 lb below the mark off which he registered his latest success at Catterick in October. However, he's simply been going through the motions so far this season and others are more appealing.

Form: 6-00705

(16)

Bella Kopella^t⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Rowan Scott| T: N Tinkler| OR: 73| D

33/1

Added to her tally at Beverley in May and since made the frame in handicaps at Carlisle and Doncaster. Shade more needed if she's to take this prize but it wouldn't be any great surprise to see this filly involved in the finish.

Form: 138144

(4)

Trilby⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: J Fanning| T: S England| OR: 72| D

11/2

Bagged 6f handicaps at Catterick and Haydock in April and has remained in good form since, leaving the impression that he can still be competitive off this sort of mark. Each-way chance.

Form: 510666

(20)

Spirit Of Applause²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: J P Sullivan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 72| D

33/1

Winner of 2 of his 18 appearances, the latest registered off a 3 lb higher mark at Haydock last May. However, he hasn't threatened in a handful of runs so far this season and Danzan is presumably the stable first-string.

Form: 406-066

(11)

Utilis¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Ben Robinson| T: B Ellison| OR: 72

22/1

Remains a maiden following 15 attempts and while a reproduction of his second-placed effort at Doncaster last month would put him in the picture, he followed that with an inauspicious display Newcastle.

Form: 820-020

(3)

Ray Vonn^h,t⁶⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Hector Crouch| T: B Brookhouse| OR: 72| D

11/1

Back in the winning groove when narrowly prevailing at Nortingham (6f, good to firm) last time. 3 lb rise fair enough and he will be a threat if able to back that up.

Form: 41489-1

(19)

Glendown^p,t⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Cam Hardie| T: T D Easterby| OR: 69| D

50/1

Has edged back down to the mark off which he hit the target at Redcar during the autumn. Didn't do anything wrong when fourth of 11 off at Beverley (5f, good to firm) last time and he's by no means discounted.

Form: 410-094

(6)

Showtime Mahomes⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: S H James| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 69| BF| CD

14/1

Has looked on good terms with himself this year, posting a string of respectable efforts in defeat, not least at Doncaster the last twice. Needs more with the win in mind but he shouldn't be too far away.

Form: 556524

Non-Runners

(15)

Kuwait City³⁰

Weight: 9-6| Age: 4

T: J Butler J: S A Gray

(14)

Sibyl Charm¹⁷

Weight: 9-4| Age: 4

T: I Jardine J: P Mulrennan

Forecasts

Dark Side Thunder (4/1), Trilby (11/2), Danzan (13/2), Rock Opera (15/2), Mattice (8/1), Ray Vonn (11/1), Hierarchy (12/1), Showtime Mahomes (14/1), Elegant Erin (16/1), Sibyl Charm (16/1), Maxi Boy (20/1), Rebel Path (20/1), Kuwait City (20/1), Utilis (22/1), Treacherous (33/1), Spirit Of Applause (33/1), As If By Chance (33/1), Bella Kopella (33/1), Oso Rapido (40/1), Glendown (50/1)

It was a case of all dressed up and nowhere to go for HIERARCHY at Sandown last month and, on that evidence, he looks ready to strike. As you would expect given that it's a sprint handicap on the Knavesmire, there are dangers aplenty, headed by Maxi Boy and Danzan. Others to consider include last-time-out winners Elegant Erin, Ray Vonn and Rock Opera. The consistent Dark Side Thunder completes the shortlist.