14:10 York

Thursday 15 May 2025

All14:1014:4215:1315:4516:1816:5517:25

Lindum York Handicap

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 58.67s

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Selected odds by:

(14)

Shagraan¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Tom Marquand| T: M Appleby| OR: 101| BF| D

8/1

Doesn't have excessive mileage for a 4-y-o sprint handicapper and didn't do much wrong last term, winning twice and also performed well in defeat on several occasions, including when fifth to Jm Jungle here at the Ebor meeting. Shaped well on return at Goodwood and he's a key player.

Form: 41519-3

(3)

Tees Spirit¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: Jack Nicholls⁽⁷⁾| T: Adrian Nicholls| OR: 100| D

18/1

Three-time winner last season and gave it a good shot from the front when fifth of 17 in this race off a similar mark 12 months ago. However, not at his best both starts since the turn of the year and he essentially looks vulnerable.

Form: 0317-05

(5)

Spartan Arrow^p²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson| OR: 99| D

13/2

Fine third in 2024 renewal of this, on what proved to be his sole appearance of last season. 9 lb higher this time round but with good reason having scored on the AW in March and again in first-time cheekpieces (retained here) at Epsom (5f, good to firm) last time. Couldn't rule out.

Form: 1/3-9141

(16)

American Affair²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: P Mulrennan| T: J S Goldie| OR: 98| D

7/2

Consistent type who was progressive last year and raised his game another notch when proving ¾-length too good for Jm Jungle on return at Musselburgh (5f, good) last month (Vintage Clarets back in seventh). 4 lb rise probably underestimates him and another bold show is highly likely.

Form: 22310-1

(10)

Pilgrim¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: J Fanning| T: T D Barron| OR: 98| BF| C| D

11/1

Seriously progressive during first half of last season, third in a C&D 3-y-o handicap at this meeting prior to bagging handicaps at Musselburgh and Royal Ascot. Second half of 2024 was not so productive but he resumed with a good second at Ripon (5f, good to firm) and a case can be made.

Form: 11000-2

(11)

Vintage Clarets¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: O J Orr| T: R A Fahey| OR: 95| CD

33/1

C&D winner in 2023 and came good towards the tail end of last term, bagging 5f handicaps at Chester and Catterick. Shaped much better than on first 2 starts this season when third at Ripon recently (not far behind runner-up Pilgrim) but record suggests he's ideally suited by some cut in the ground.

Form: 210-073

(7)

Toca Madera¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Tommie Jakes⁽⁵⁾| T: B J Meehan| OR: 95

18/1

Useful handicapper who tasted success over 6f at Windsor last summer. Sound return to action despite racing freely when runner-up at Newmarket (5f, good) but failed to build on that at Goodwood recently and he's likely to come up short once more.

Form: 3196-26

(9)

Jm Jungle²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 93| CD

11/2

Likeable sprinter who, having performed with credit on several previous visits to this track, landed a big pot at the Ebor meeting here last term. Followed that with a solid third to American Affair in the Portland and again wasn't far behind that rival on return at Musselburgh. Solid claims.

Form: 45135-2

(15)

Vantheman³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 90| D

8/1

Won twice over 5f last term and also finished a fine second in the C&D 3-y-o handicap at this meeting in 2024. Reappearance effort at Newmarket (6f, good to soft) was encouraging and while this demands improvement, he's of interest returned to the minimum trip and back on faster ground.

Form: 20154-5

(4)

Trilby¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: P J McDonald| T: S England| OR: 86| D

11/1

Consistent type who more than paid his way in 2024, a campaign that yielded 4 wins and any number of creditable efforts in defeat (including all 4 visits here). Added to his tally at Beverley last month and didn't do much wrong when fourth off this mark at Leicester 10 days later. Each-way shout.

Form: 210-014

(18)

Zoulu Chief¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Oisin Murphy| T: H Main| OR: 85| C

12/1

Showed plenty of dash when landing a major 6f nursery off 1 lb higher at the 2023 Ebor meeting. Missed whole of 2024 British season following an unsuccessful stint in Dubai in the early part of the year, but back on track when third of 9 at Ascot recently and he's of strong interest back here.

Form: 8095-03

(1)

Ventura Express¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-9| J: Mark Winn| T: P T Midgley| OR: 84| D

28/1

Dual winner in 2024 and shaped well first 2 starts of present campaign, going down narrowly on return at Newcastle in March before finishing a rather unlucky fifth (hampered at a crucial stage) of 10 at Pontefract. However, no excuses when behind a couple of these at Ripon recently.

Form: 763-254

(12)

Nazron¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: S De Sousa| T: I Furtado| OR: 83| D

25/1

Deservedly resumed winning ways when taking a 5f Windsor handicap for Roger Varian in good style last summer. Hasn't matched that form in 4 starts for present connections, though, for all that his latest third on the AW at least represented a step back in the right direction.

Form: 1608-63

(2)

Vince L'Amour^t²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: Amie Waugh⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 81| CD

33/1

Well held first 2 visits here last term but then finished a close third back at this course in September, before getting the better of Trilby and 15 others over C&D (soft) the following month. However, he hasn't reproduced that form since and was behind some of these rivals at Musselburgh last time.

Form: 0810-36

(13)

Mon Na Slieve^b1¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: Rowan Scott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 81| CD

28/1

Firmly back on track with the headgear discarded when successful at Musselburgh (5f, good) early last month. Followed that with a creditable fourth to American Affair over the same C&D next time but subsequently finished stone last at Thirsk. Sports first-time blinkers.

Form: 478140

(17)

Fine Wine^b¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 8-4| J: Aiden Brookes⁽³⁾| T: S Dixon| OR: 79| CD

28/1

Winner of the 2022 renewal of this handicap and successful twice on the AW later that year. Hasn't got his head in front since, though, and while his recent third of 9 at Musselburgh (5f, good) was a welcome return to form, it was still a performance some way short of his best.

Form: 5/769-03

(8)

Lethal Nymph^p¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 8-4| J: Warren Fentiman⁽⁵⁾| T: P T Midgley| OR: 79| BF

25/1

Good second to subsequent top-level winner Starlust in a C&D handicap last May and posted another solid effort in defeat when chasing home American Affair at Thirsk in June. On the downside, his losing run stretches back to September 2022 and he failed to fire back at Thirsk recently.

Form: 30-6320

Non-Runners

(6)

Mondammej¹⁹

Weight: 8-5| Age: 8

T: A Brittain J: Cam Hardie

Forecasts

American Affair (7/2), Jm Jungle (11/2), Spartan Arrow (13/2), Shagraan (8/1), Vantheman (8/1), Trilby (11/1), Pilgrim (11/1), Zoulu Chief (12/1), Toca Madera (18/1), Tees Spirit (18/1), Nazron (25/1), Lethal Nymph (25/1), Mon Na Slieve (28/1), Fine Wine (28/1), Ventura Express (28/1), Vintage Clarets (33/1), Vince L'Amour (33/1), Mondammej (33/1)

Commensurate with York sprint handicap standards, this is ultra-competitive and ZOULU CHIEF heads a long shortlist of appealing candidates. Having missed the whole of the 2024 British season, he proved that his ability remains intact when a good third on his second run back from a lengthy absence at Ascot and the memory of his impressive nursery success here in 2023 remains strong. Shagraan is a much-respected main danger, while American Affair, Jm Jungle and Vantheman are others to consider.