14:42 York

Friday 16 May 2025

All14:1014:4215:1315:4516:1516:5517:30

Knights Solicitors Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Off time: 14:42 | Winning time: 2m 11.66s

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Selected odds by:

(4)

Thunder Run⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 100| C

5/1

Only the fifth start of his career when landing a valuable 1m handicap here at last year's Ebor meeting. Ridden too aggressively when a returning 15th in the Lincoln at Doncaster and this likeable front-runner can bounce back here.

Form: 11314-0

(5)

Salamanca²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: W Buick| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 98| D

7/1

Low-mileage 4-y-o wh got off the mark in 14-runner handicap at Newcastle (10.2f) 28 days ago. Up 4 lb but he may do better still so needs considering.

Form: 251V-41

(6)

Tony Montana¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: D Egan| T: M L W Bell| OR: 96| D

9/2

A dual 1m2f winner in 2024 and he resumed with an excellent second of 11 in handicap at Goodwood (9.9f, good to firm) 13 days ago, collared only late on. Not taken lightly despite a 2 lb weights rise.

Form: 10335-2

(7)

Flying Frontier²⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: D Tudhope| T: J Tate| OR: 95| D

8/1

Has a largely progressive profile and he signed off for 2024 with victory at Sandown (1m2f) in August. Should give another good account on his seasonal return.

Form: 522/801-

(1)

Brioni²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Rossa Ryan| T: A King| OR: 93| D

10/1

Impressed when going in at Ascot (1m2f) in the autumn and shaped as if the run was needed when eighth of 11 in 1m Newmarket handicap last month. No surprise to see him take a hand back up in trip now.

Form: 07210-8

(12)

Westerton¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Tom Marquand| T: A King| OR: 90| D

25/1

Winless since 2023 but he returned with a solid sixth of 11 in handicap at Goodwood (9.9f, good to firm) 13 days ago. Can take a step forward off a 3 lb lower mark.

Form: 9/0037-6

(13)

Have Secret^v²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Billy Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 90| D

10/1

Refitted with a visor when ending a long losing run in 9-runner handicap at Ripon (9.8f, good to firm) 29 days ago by 4¾ lengths from Financer. Hiked up 8 lb but not taken lightly in his current mood.

Form: 5026-01

(11)

Bint Al Daar¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: K Shoemark| T: K P De Foy| OR: 86| D

14/1

Claimer ridden and in good nick this spring, second of 5 in handicap at Nottingham (8.3f, good) 17 days ago. One to consider back up in trip.

Form: 1230-42

(9)

Debora's Dream⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: O J Orr| T: J Candlish| OR: 86

28/1

Bagged a couple of 1m handicaps for Roger Varian last summer and he shaped well for his new yard when sixth of 14 at Chester (10.3f, good to soft) 8 days ago, faring best of those held up. Holds solid claims off the same mark.

Form: 3534-06

(3)

Austrian Theory⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 85| D

5/1

Scored at Pontefract (1m2f) in October and has resumed with good second placings in handicaps at Redcar and Chester (1m2f) this spring. Can make his presence felt once more off an unchanged mark.

Form: 2410-22

(8)

Zain Blue^p²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Connor Beasley| T: J Butler| OR: 85| C

16/1

Signed off for 2024 with 1m victory here (in cheekpieces) but he was ridden by halfway when only ninth in handicap at Newmarket (8f, good) 29 days ago. Headgear is refitted now so no surprise to see him get back on track.

Form: 51351-9

(2)

Man Of Desert¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: S De Sousa| T: C A Dwyer| OR: 82

25/1

Lightly-raced Study of Man colt took a big step forward when third of 12 in maiden at Yarmouth (8f, good to firm) 15 days ago. Can't be ruled out stepping up in trip for his handicap debut.

Form: 6-63

(10)

Financer²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 82| D

18/1

A three-time 1m2f scorer in 2024 and he shaped well on his return under a patient ride when second of 9 to Have Secret in handicap at Ripon (9.8f, good to firm) 29 days ago. Merits serious consideration off an unchanged mark.

Form: 58015-2

Forecasts

Tony Montana (9/2), Thunder Run (5/1), Austrian Theory (5/1), Salamanca (7/1), Flying Frontier (8/1), Have Secret (10/1), Brioni (10/1), Bint Al Daar (14/1), Zain Blue (16/1), Financer (18/1), Westerton (25/1), Man Of Desert (25/1), Debora's Dream (28/1)

This is wide open but it could pay to side with Karl Burke's course winner THUNDER RUN to get back on the up having not been seen to best effect when down the field in the Lincoln at Doncaster on his return. Tim Easterby's in-form duo Austrian Theory (second choice) and Financer both bring very solid credentials to the table and are feared most, although a solid case can also be made for the likes of Tony Montana, Debora's Dream, Brioni and Westerton in this cracking handicap.