YORK

4:35 HSS.COM STAKES (HANDICAP) (CLASS 3) (3yo+,0-95) 5f

BOND CITY 10-0 ~ Hasn’t really showed up in three previous starts here at York but he goes well over the minimum trip at sharp tracks so no reason why the track shouldn’t suit. His last win came two years ago at Epsom but he has been dropping down the handicap and ticking over nicely suggesting it will only be a matter of time before he goes in again. He ran a good race in the Dash at Epsom last time despite missing the break and he ran on well to finish a close 8th. He can be rated better than the bare form as the horse next to him in the stalls flyleapt leaving the gate causing him to miss the break which in the Dash will prove terminal to all but the best sprinters. He could well run a good race today but looks vulnerable to any potential improvers and a place looks the best he can hope for.

EVERYMANFORHIMSELF 9-13 ~ Useful juvenile but as a result he struggled as a 3yo with his high handicap mark. He eventually bounced back to form in a weak handicap at Leicester as his mark dropped to a suitable level. He was put up 6lbs for that win but even under his new mark he ran some fine races showing the benefit gained from finally getting his head in front again. He left James Given over the winter and joined Kevin Ryan where he has continued on the up. He made a fine seasonal reappearance in a good handicap at Newmarket before running well over course and distance behind Masta Plasta in the Scottish Sprint Cup. That was a tougher race than todays and he ran well to finish 2nd so he looks sure to be thereabouts at the finish given he should have ideal conditions.

EFISTORM 9-11 ~ The 7yo showed improved form last season with two fine efforts in soft ground so any further rain will aid his chances. The first was a win at Newmarket and the last at Haydock now looks very good with Oldjoesaid progressing into a pattern class performer. However the handicapper didn’t ignore those efforts and he returns after 8 months off the track on a career high mark. He looked held under his new mark at the end of last season and with fitness a concern he can be passed over.

SOHRAAB 9-11 ~ Hughie Morrison does well with his sprinters and Sohraab improved some 25lbs last season as a 3yo. The horse was a model of consistency and recorded six 2nd placings on the trot. That raises obvious questions about his attitude but that can’t be faulted and he was just an unlucky horse. He even won one race after a stewards enquiry only to lose it again on appeal. He proved himself equally adept at 5f to 7f but his best efforts over the minimum trip came at stiff tracks and he was readily outpaced over 5f at Goodwood. That is a concern and the horse has been off the track for 8 months so is likely to be in need of the run. He is entered in the Wokingham and he’ll probably need to win today if he wants to get into the race as without a penalty he isn’t going to get into the race. There are obvious doubts about his chances but he is still only young and could be open to further improvement, however on the balance he is passed over for todays race.

CONTINENT 9-10 ~ Group 1 Prix de l'Abbaye and Group 1 July Cup winner if you trail back far enough in the annals of time. Dandy Nicholls’ 11yo faces less accomplished rivals today but that’s the company he’s been keeping in the last three years. Last season he produced some fine efforts proving he still retains enough ability at his ripe old age. He won the Audi Q7 Cup Handicap Stakes at Glorious Goodwood before then finishing 5th behind Utmost Respect in the Ayr Silver Cup. If he can return in the same form this season after a 9 month break then he’ll be involved in the finish. However he was far from consistent last season and the yards runners normally benefit for the run. He is also another year older so there are plenty of questions he has to answer so the percentage call is to oppose.

TABARET 9-10 ~ It’s 3 years since the 5yo gelding has won a race but he isn’t the first and he won’t be the last horse who has struggled after earning a high handicap mark during their juvenile campaign. The horse has been beaten in nine handicaps on the trot but has been improving as he drops down the ratings. After making his seasonal reappearance at Beverley he ran well for a long way next time out in a handicap over course and distance. He finished 6th but can be rated better than the bare form as he raced close to the furious pace. At Newcastle on his next start he again performed better than his finishing position suggests as he ran well for a long way before his race was ended two furlongs out after being badly hampered. He bounced back well from those unlucky efforts last time when again running well over course and distance in the competitive Scottish Sprint Cup. He finished 4th, beaten 1¼ lengths by Everymanforhimself but he has a 3lbs pull in the weights with that rival and he has a chance of reversing the form. Tabaret is in fine fettle at the moment and looks on a more than workable handicap mark. He looks more than likely to again run another big race and he has to be respected.

STOLT 9-10 ~ Never been the most consistent horse but when he gets a sharp 5f with some give in the ground he can be a useful performer. He benefitted from a plum draw when winning at Thirsk earlier on in the season and the handicapper hit him with a 6lbs hike in the ratings. He appeared held in two subsequent starts but over course and distance last time he bounced back to form with a bang. He made all and just edged the in-form Crimson Fern. The front two pulled clear of the pack and the runner-up has franked the form by winning next time out at Sandown. That looks decent form in this grade but the handicapper has put the 4yo gelding up another 7lbs. That will make life tough but he is likely to get the run of the race out in front and with ideal conditions he should run another big race.

DIVINE SPIRIT 9-9 ~ Michael Dods 7yo gelding is exposed but he finished last season in the form of his life. 4 wins in his last 6 starts was mightily impressive but of course it means that he’ll need to return this season in even better form if he is going to win on a career high mark. He is sure to be in need of the run at his age after 9 months off the track and he would probably prove more effective at a stiffer track. He is one of the less likely winners in the line-up.

JACK RACKHAM 9-7 ~ Brian Smarts son of Kyllachy made a winning start on his reappearance last season but that was a race he was entitled to win as a short price favourite in a maiden. This is a lot tougher and he is sure to be in need of the run against this company. After he broke his maiden last season he produced an impressive performance when winning a 3yo handicap at Beverley. He was hampered and ended up still being last going into the final few furlongs but once he got going he shot past the field to win by a couple of lengths. That was a weak handicap though and his best effort came over the extended 5f in a good handicap at Doncaster. He finished 3rd behind Golden Dixie but the front three pulled clear of the rest and there was a three way photo finish. A reproduction of that form would make him very competitive in todays race but there is the worry though that the sharp 5f will prove too quick and he’ll be outpaced. Given that concern and that he has to bounce back after some poor efforts at the end of last season he is taken on.

TONY THE TAP 9-7 ~ William Muir trained 7yo has only won once on turf in 33 attempts so his poor strike rate definitely won’t be encouraging any punters to part with their hard earned. That win came over 6f at Epsom four years ago and the horses’ best form has come on stiff tracks over 5f or over 6f. Todays sharp 5f doesn’t look likely to suit and after a very poor reappearance effort at Nottingham he has plenty to prove and is readily taken on.

FANTASY EXPLORER 9-7 ~ Only a lb higher than when he won a valuable heritage handicap at Ayr two seasons ago so he looks well handicapped. However he is on that mark as a result of the fact that he hasn’t repeated that level of form since. He made only two starts last season but in three starts this year there have been signs of a revival. He ran well behind Mondovi at Haydock before finishing 8th last time in the Scottish Sprint Cup. He still has about 2 lengths to find on Tabaret and the 1 lb pull in the weights doesn’t look likely to be enough. He has to bounce back to his form of two years ago but that looks unlikely and another close up but held effort looks highly likely.

BO MCGINTY 9-4 ~ Produced his best effort on turf for a while when finishing 6th at Musselburgh last time. On turf he has looked plenty high enough in the handicap and Richard Faheys 7yo gelding needs to improve which is unlikely. An apprentice takes off a useful 7lbs but the jockey has only had one career winner from some 62 rides so doesn’t look a pilot to have any faith with. He’ll need more help from the handicapper before he starts winning again on turf and with his inexperience jockey he doesn’t appeal at all.

KING OF SWORDS 9-3 ~ Moved to Nigel Tinklers yard from Tracey Collins at the end of last season and he’s made an encouraging start to his career in this country. He ran well at Doncaster on his debut for his new yard before being hampered in the final furlong. He then finished 2nd behind Jilly Why at Thirsk but that race hasn’t worked out. That’s more than likely due to the furious pace the leaders went setting the race up for the hold up performers. Next time out the horse seemed to undo all his good work when finishing last in a 5f handicap at Redcar. He has plenty to prove now and given his style of running he doesn’t look likely to be suited by this sharp 5f. It looks unlikely that he’ll be recording his first win in handicap company today.

TOTAL IMPACT 9-3 ~ He was a decent handicapper two years ago as a 3yo but he struggled last season. He looked to be going nowhere fast but salvation came with a switch in yards to the shrewd Richard Fahey stable. After his seasonal reappearance on the fibresand at Southwell he won a 5f handicap at Doncaster in handy fashion. He did get as dream run up the rail but it proved his new handler has got the 5yo gelding back to near his best. The handicapper has responded by putting the horse up 5lbs in the weights but he could still be well handicapped as during his 3yo campaign he won a handicap off a mark of 82. This is a lot tougher company than he faced at Doncaster last time and although he won well enough he wasn’t overly impressive. His new handler will need to improve the 5yo gelding again if he is going to record his second win on the bounce. However improvement isn’t out of the question and with ideal conditions he has to enter calculations.  

BAHAMIAN BALLET 9-2 ~ He has around a length to find with Fantasy Explorer on the form of his run at Haydock last time. He was hampered slightly but it didn’t appear to make any difference so on the same weights today he has a little to find with Fantasy Explorer. However his style of running should suit the nature of the track and he is only 2lbs higher than when winning a 5f sprint at Catterick last season so is reasonably handicapped. This company is tougher which will make life difficult but he looks sure to run his race and can’t be easily dismissed.

LORD OF THE REINS 9-2 ~. For his former trainer Derek Shaw he produced an impressive performance when winning a handicap over the minimum trip at Great Leighs earlier on in the season. He showed a good turn of foot to sweep past a decent field and the race has worked out well. On his return to racing on turf though he proved at Goodwood that he can be equally effective in both spheres on the flat. He was the only horse in the field to give the well backed Safari Mischief a race as the front two pulled clear of the field. The winner has franked the form since by running well in two much better handicaps including when 3rd in the Dash at Epsom last weekend. As for Lord Of The Reins he changed yards after his Goodwood effort where he joined James Givens organisation. On his debut for his new yard disappointed some what back at Great Leighs but he had excuses. He again didn’t handle the bend again and whereas he won despite this the time before the combination of the hike in weights and the race not run to suit he couldn’t overcome this. The eventual winner, who had the run of the race out in front, had a 11lbs pull in the weights with Lord Of The Reins after the pairs last meeting so it was no disgrace finishing where he did. He looks sure to appreciate a return to a straight course and back on turf he has to be high on any shortlist.

STYLE AWARD 9-0 ~ Well exposed for a 3yo having made 18 starts already during his short career. After winning a handicap on the all weather at Lingfield he was hit with a 9lbs rise in the weights. That was five runs ago and since then the horse has looked well held by the handicapper. He’ll need to improve to win off his career high mark and the hiring of an average 7lbs claimer won’t make much difference.

THE NIFTY FOX 9-0 ~ Bounced back to form at Redcar when finishing an unlucky 2nd behind Inter Vision. Next time out at Musselburgh however he couldn’t make amends and finished only 3rd in an average handicap. He hasn’t won for a while and that’s the horses problem as he is doesn’t hold any secrets from the handicapper. He’s in good form though and is sure to run his race but in this company he again looks vulnerable.

DESERTED DANE 9-0 ~ All of his best form over 5f has come at stiff tracks so York doesn’t appear likely to suit. Also he has already been well held behind King Of Swords and Stolt in his last two runs and there is little reason to think he can reverse the form with that pair. He does have a 13lbs pull in the weights for a four length beating by Stolt over course and distance last time but even that doesn’t look enough. He has proved expensive to follow and although he will pop up one day at a price it doesn’t look likely it’ll be today.

CONCLUSION

The draw has thrown up some mixed messages in recent meetings with low numbers favoured till the last meeting when high numbers dominated. As a result it’s probably best to focus on where the pace will be. There doesn’t look likely to be a furious gallop on with only Stolt and Bahamian Ballet guaranteed to go off in front. They are both drawn middle-low so it could be that the pack comes up the middle of the course putting slightly less emphasis on the draw.
With 19 runners in the field this is a competitive sprint and the front two in the market, Everymanforhimself and Total Impact, although both having good chances are probably worth taking on with an each way angle with four places on offer. Both have done well for their new yards but they don’t have a lot in hand over many of todays rivals.
Tabaret looks an obvious alternative with his pull in the weights for his 1¼ length defeat by the favourite last time over course and distance. However he has probably the worst draw on offer and he is likely to be detached on the outside of the field. The horse also hasn’t won for a while which doesn’t make him an appealing alternative.
Bahamian Ballet although likely to get a good run though the race he needs to improve on what he has shown so far this season so preference would be for fellow front runner Stolt. He has already shown he can be dangerous over course and distance if given a free rein out in front he is sure to run a big race despite his 7lbs hike in the weights.
Although all of the above are highly respected in todays competitive heat preference is for James Givens Lord Of The Reins. His second behind Safari Sunset at Goodwood now looks very good with the winner finishing 3rd in the Epsom Dash last weekend. He is an unexposed performer on the turf and if he can continue the progression he has shown on the all weather then he’ll run a massive race in race conditions that should suit.

1pt EACH WAY – LORD OF THE REINS @ 25/1

RESULT

LORD OF THE REINS 3rd = +5.25pts