15:10 York

Saturday 12 July 2025

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:1516:4517:25

John Smith's Cup Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPlus Race)

Off time: 15:11 | Winning time: 2m 10.1s

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(17)

Thunder Run⁵⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 104| CD

15/2

Has landed 2 good handicaps at this course, the latter when tackling 1¼m for the first time at the Dante meeting, getting up in the dying strides despite pulling hard. Should remain very competitive off 4 lb higher. The draw could have been kinder.

Form: 1314-01

(13)

Naqeeb²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: K Stott| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 103

12/1

Smart handicapper who has made an encouraging start to life with the Julie Camacho stable, running up to his very best when third of 18 in the Duke of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot (1½m) 22 days ago. Travels strongly enough in his races to think he could prove effective back at shorter. On the shortlist.

Form: 200-653

(15)

Ancient Rome⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Rob Hornby| T: C Hills| OR: 102| D

28/1

Smart at his best, acquitting himself well in Group company last term. Better than the result in Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot and confirmed he's back in better form when third of 8 at Sandown (1¼m) last weekend.

Form: 4-70903

(9)

Hand Of God²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: D Tudhope| T: Harry Charlton| OR: 102| BF| D

7/1

Lightly-raced 4-y-o who took his form to another level when impressive winner of Golden Gates Handicap at 2024 Royal Ascot. Better effort this year when sixth of 18 in Duke of Edinburgh at this year's Royal meeting but it was still below his best. Needs to recapture his peak form.

Form: 51/11-96

(4)

Soldier's Empire^h²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Hollie Doyle| T: M Botti| OR: 101| D

40/1

Useful 1m winner for Ger Lyons earlier in his career and cemented the early positives displayed for new yard when adding to his tally in Bahrain back in March. Only mid-field in the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot on his return to Britain, though.

Form: 424140

(14)

Erzindjan³⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Ray Dawson| T: T Kent| OR: 98

80/1

Smart performer earlier in his career but largely struggled in the Middle East at the start of 2024 and last of 18 in a Galway handicap just under a year ago (only start for Paddy Twomey).

Form: 677000-

(1)

Auld Toon Loon^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 97| D

12/1

Didn't last long over hurdles for Lucinda Russell but firmly back on track returned to Flat when making a winning start for this yard at Bath (1¼m) in October. Unlucky not to make a winning reappearance at Chester in May and had little go right when well held in the Duke of Edinburgh at Ascot since.

Form: 4/143-20

(19)

Fox Legacy²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: P J McDonald| T: A M Balding| OR: 96| D

10/1

Steadily progressive for Sir Michael Stoute last year and improved further to make winning return for his new yard at Newmarket (9f) in May. Fared best of those in centre of track when sixth of 30 in Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot (1m) since. Likely his mark is still workable but stall 19 could be awkward.

Form: 4174-16

(12)

Faylaq¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 9-4| J: P Mulrennan| T: J S Goldie| OR: 96| D

33/1

Scored twice at Hamilton in May and has continued in very good nick, finishing of 20 in Northumberland Plate at Newcastle (2m) a fortnight ago. Just as effective over shorter and should give his running again.

Form: 116535

(18)

Brioni^p²⁹^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Rossa Ryan| T: A King| OR: 91| D

25/1

Not seen to best effect behind Thunder Run at the Dante meeting and resumed winning ways at Sandown (1¼m, good) in first-time cheekpieces (retained) 4 weeks later. A 5 lb penalty demands more, though.

Form: 210-881

(10)

See That Storm²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: E Bethell| OR: 95| D

11/2

Winner of first 4 starts for current connections, including a 1¼m Redcar handicap on reappearance. Went down narrowly in the Zetland Gold Cup over the same C&D next time and ran another cracker when chasing home a progressive sort from the Gosden stable over C&D (good to firm) 4 weeks ago. Player.

Form: 111-122

(5)

Have Secret^v³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Billy Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 93| BF| D

22/1

Ended a lengthy losing run at Ripon in April and good placed efforts over C&D (third to Thunder Run) and Ripon on next 2 starts. Had an excuse when down the field at Epsom since. The visor he's worn lately is left off.

Form: 6-01320

(11)

Romieu^t¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Elizabeth Gale⁽⁵⁾| T: A Keatley| OR: 90

18/1

Won 1m Redcar novice on first run for Adrian Keatley and better form in handicaps since, including fifth to Thunder Run over C&D at the Dante meeting. Bounced back from a disappointing run in the Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar when second of 11 at Newcastle 16 days ago. Elizabeth Gale takes 5 lb off.

Form: 12-1502

(8)

Dark Moon Rising^b²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: Josephine Gordon| T: K A Ryan| OR: 89| C

40/1

In good form on the AW this winter. Also shaped well back from 3 months off at Newcastle on Good Friday but well beaten in 2 turf handicaps here since.

Form: 12-3870

(7)

Mirabeau⁶⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Jason Hart| T: D J S Ffrench Davis| OR: 98| C

25/1

Two wins as a juvenile included a valuable prize over 7f here on soft. Showed he's trained on with creditable efforts in listed races at Epsom and Chester this spring but his opening mark of 98 looks tough.

Form: 0115-35

(3)

Austrian Theory²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: Warren Fentiman⁽⁵⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 86| D

33/1

Scored at Pontefract last autumn and has resumed with good runner-up efforts in defeat at Redcar and Chester (to Paddy The Squire). Respectable seventh of 12 over C&D (good to firm) 29 days ago but a couple of today's rivals were ahead of him.

Form: 10-2277

(6)

Archivist¹⁴^{(ex 5)}

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: A J Farragher| T: W J Haggas| OR: 90| C

15/8

Very much going the right way for new trainer William Haggas, winning a Leicester maiden with ease before running out the cosy winner of a 1m course handicap at odds of 4/6 a fortnight ago. 1¼m ought to be within range and looks well treated under a 5 lb penalty with further progress on the cards.

Form: 222-211

(2)

Qitaal^v1⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-5| J: Joanna Mason| T: C Johnston| OR: 83| D

16/1

Not the most straightforward but has recorded creditable fourths over this trip at Chester and Redcar on last 2 outings. Needs a first-time visor to spark improvement if he's to win a race as competitive as this.

Form: 475744

Non-Runners

(16)

Paddy The Squire⁷

Weight: 8-7| Age: 5

T: I Jardine J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Archivist (15/8), See That Storm (11/2), Hand Of God (7/1), Thunder Run (15/2), Fox Legacy (10/1), Naqeeb (12/1), Auld Toon Loon (12/1), Qitaal (16/1), Paddy The Squire (16/1), Romieu (18/1), Have Secret (22/1), Brioni (25/1), Mirabeau (25/1), Ancient Rome (28/1), Austrian Theory (33/1), Faylaq (33/1), Dark Moon Rising (40/1), Soldier's Empire (40/1), Erzindjan (80/1)

Three year-olds don't have a great recent record in this race but ARCHIVIST looks capable of bucking that trend and becoming the first of his generation to take this since Wigmore Hall in 2010. See That Storm goes off the same mark as when runner-up over C&D last month and can extend his run of form since joining Ed Bethell and provide the chief threat ahead of Naqeeb and Thunder Run.