15:38 Thirsk

Friday 29 August 2025

All14:0514:3515:0515:3816:0816:3817:08

Ruby Lodge Care Home In Thirsk Handicap

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 1m 9.38s

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Selected odds by:

(5)

Secret Guest^p¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Harrison Shaw| T: B Smart| OR: 89| CD

14/1

Successful here in May and posted his best effort since when runner-up back over this C&D last month. Excuses on account of where he raced when last of 17 in Great St Wilfrid at Ripon (6f) 13 days ago and he's every inch the type to bounce back returned to this venue.

Form: 810720

(13)

Spangled Mac^p,t³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Billy Loughnane| T: G Boughey| OR: 89| D

12/1

Not at best since returning from Bahrain earlier this year, albeit his track position offering some mitigation when ninth of 12 in handicap at Yarmouth (7f, good to soft) 36 days ago. Refitting of cheekpieces may help and mark is easing but needs to show more before becoming of interest.

Form: 505069

(1)

Columnist²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: J Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 91| D

12/1

Very useful at 2 yrs, the highlight of which was his close third in the Coventry at Royal Ascot. Has so far failed to scale those heights this season though, promising more than he delivered when ninth of 16 in handicap at Goodwood (7f) 27 days ago. Eases in class now.

Form: 3-87059

(9)

Dark Cloud Rising¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 90| CD

9/2

C&D winner. 2 wins from 6 runs this year. 9/2, career best when winning 9-runner handicap at Leicester (6f, firm) 19 days ago, leading final 1f and keeping on. Expected to go well again from 3 lb higher mark.

Form: 143091

(6)

Tinto^p²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods| OR: 86| CD

28/1

3-time C&D winner who bagged this race from 2 lb higher mark 12 months ago. Confirmed he retains plenty of zest when runner-up over an inadequate 5f here in the spring and he's had excuses on 2 of his 3 starts since (lost action latest). Revival not ruled out in refitted cheekpieces.

Form: 8-02000

(12)

Rousing Encore¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 86| BF| D

7/2

Successful at York's Dante meeting in May and best effort since when good fourth in Sky Bet Dash back on the Knavesmire in July. Ridden closer to the pace when midfield in Great St Wilfrid at Ripon 13 days ago and better showing anticipated here from what could prove a good draw.

Form: 614440

(8)

Dakota Gold⁵⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 9-6| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR: 85| C| D

40/1

Capitalised on the drop in grade when making a winning return from 6 months off at Ripon in April. However, ran poorly both subsequent starts, last of 13 in handicap at this C&D (good) 58 days ago.

Form: 502-100

(10)

Artagnan³⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: H Al Jehani| OR: 87| BF| D

7/1

Developed into a useful juvenile for Karl Burke last year, winning big-field Glorious Goodwood nursery (6f) and runner-up next 2 starts from higher marks. Changed yards and gelded ahead of return and not out of the question there could be more to come on the back of just 6 career starts.

Form: 205122-

(11)

Duran¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Alex Jary⁽⁵⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 83| D

14/1

Latest win at Haydock in May. Mixed bag has followed but highlighted he's ready to strike again when fourth of 13 in handicap at Haydock (5f, good to firm) 19 days ago, doing best of those racing on unfavoured part of course. Respected back at 6f.

Form: 210044

(14)

King's Call¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: D Swift| T: S Spencer| OR: 85| D

18/1

Winless since his debut when trained by Kevin Ryan and more miss than hit in handful of starts for present stable, going with little fluency when tenth of 11 in handicap (18/1) at Newbury (5.2f, good to firm) 13 days ago. Steps back up in trip now.

Form: 700800

(7)

It Just Takes Time¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Jack Nicholls⁽⁵⁾| T: M Walford| OR: 80| CD

9/1

C&D winner who scored 3 times during second half of last season. Largely consistent in defeat this time around, again performing creditably when second of 15 in handicap at Ripon (6f, good to firm) 13 days ago, first home in group. Worth considering.

Form: 745302

(3)

Sir Garfield^b¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 76| D

14/1

3 wins from 12 runs this year, confirming himself as good as ever when taking 10-runner handicap at Hamilton (6f, good to firm, 5/2) 17 days ago, by short head from Eternal Sunshine. Can make presence felt again.

Form: 274621

(2)

Tiriac³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Mark Winn| T: P T Midgley| OR: 75| D

28/1

Back-to-back winner of 6f handicaps last spring who caught the eye when midfield in handicaps at Beverley/Haydock earlier this term. Came in a respectable seventh of 12 in handicap at Doncaster 37 days ago and he's not one to write off for stable who are a dab hand with such types.

Form: 55-0586

(4)

Eternal Sunshine⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Lauren Young⁽⁷⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 74| CD

11/2

Remains winless in 2025 but she ran another fine race when runner-up in 5f fillies' handicap at York (5f) last week. Step up to 7f may not have been ideal turned out back there the following day and better showing can be expected returned to sprinting.

Form: 429220

Forecasts

Rousing Encore (7/2), Dark Cloud Rising (9/2), Eternal Sunshine (11/2), Artagnan (7/1), It Just Takes Time (9/1), Spangled Mac (12/1), Columnist (12/1), Duran (14/1), Secret Guest (14/1), Sir Garfield (14/1), King's Call (18/1), Tiriac (28/1), Tinto (28/1), Dakota Gold (40/1)

Having ran particularly well when fourth in a strong affair at York on his penultimate start, ROUSING ENCORE is probably best not judged too harshly on his subsequent run when midfield in the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon. He's clearly still on an exploitable mark and could bounce straight back. It Just Takes Time, Secret Guest and Sir Garfield are a trio of others to consider, whilst last year's winner Tinto shouldn't be underestimated either.