Fast Results

Scores

16:05 York

Saturday 10 July 2021

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:15

John Smith's Cup Handicap

Off time: 16:07 | Winning time: 2m 11.82s

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Selected odds by:

(20)

Al Zaraqaan^p1⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: P Hanagan| T: W J Haggas| OR: 107| BF| D

18/1

Progressed rapidly as 3-y-o and took his form up a notch when landing Rosebery Handicap at Kempton. Below his best at Goodwood (9.9f) in May and he again encounters soft ground here.

Form: 111-144

(7)

What's The Story^p²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 105| C

20/1

Competing in this race for the fourth time, third in 2019 but only midfield from 3 lb higher mark last term. Creditable efforts on 2 of his 3 starts this campaign and he holds each-way claims.

Form: 572-250

(2)

Victory Chime²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Hector Crouch| T: R M Beckett| OR: 102| D

40/1

Likeable type who enhanced good record at Epsom (10f) in April. Lit up by a visor and well held in Wolferton Stakes on his latest outing but his mark looks no more than average back in a handicap.

Form: 12-3120

(12)

Sky Defender³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Connor Beasley| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 102| D

66/1

Losing run is mounting up and he's not been at his best in recent starts, beaten before meeting with the trouble when last of 9 at Epsom (10f) early last month.

Form: 644249

(22)

Aaddeey²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: M Crehan⁽³⁾| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 100| D

15/2

Low-mileage upwardly mobile sort who scored impressively at Newmarket (12f) in May. Respectable effort from 13 lb higher mark over 12f at Royal Ascot since and he may yet have more to offer.

Form: 213-215

(6)

Ascension²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 100

14/1

Quickly dispelled Chester flop when keeping on well to score at Newbury (6f) in May, relishing the underfoot conditions. Not in same form at Ascot last time and this the longest trip he's tackled.

Form: 32-9010

(11)

Lucander²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Laura Pearson⁽⁵⁾| T: R M Beckett| OR: 99| BF| CD

10/1

Resumed winning ways over C&D in August prior to a fine second in the Cambridgeshire. Good second at that venue on return but bounce back called for on the back of a below par display in the Hunt Cup.

Form: 1283-20

(9)

Hartswood¹⁶^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Connor Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 94| C

40/1

4-y-o who was well backed when making all at Newcastle (1m) 16 days ago, tackled final 1f but always holding on. Remains unexposed at this trip but plenty more on his plate in this line up.

Form: 64-9301

(16)

Nicholas T^h¹⁴^{(ex 8)}

Age: 9| Weight: 9-0| J: Ben Robinson| T: J S Goldie| OR: 91| C| D

20/1

Tough, versatile handicapper who came from a long way back to land the Northumberland Plate (2m) at Newcastle 2 weeks ago. 3 lb higher now but likely he'll remain competitive.

Form: 1-63711

(14)

Astro King²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: P J McDonald| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 98| BF

4/1

Added to the tally on return at Nottingham (8.3f) in April and fine efforts in defeat have followed, runner-up in Royal Hunt Cup last month. Well worth another crack at 1¼m and high on shortlist.

Form: 231-132

(5)

Winter Reprise¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Jason Watson| T: D Menuisier| OR: 98| D

20/1

Heavy ground maiden winner in France who wasn't disgraced in Group 3/listed contests upon returning this spring. Below best upped to 12f latest but this rates more suitable on handicap debut.

Form: 162-535

(1)

Johnny Drama^t¹³³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Joshua Bryan| T: A M Balding| OR: 98| D

22/1

Smart gelding who completed all-weather 4-timer at Kempton (12f, listed) in December. Never threatened in Winter Derby when last seen but not out of things from this sort of mark on return.

Form: 11115-5

(19)

Dawaam^p²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Jim Crowley| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 97| D

14/1

Enhanced his fine record on AW when making successful return at Chelmsford (10f) in April. Not disgraced in Wolferton Stakes subsequently and he remains low-mileage on turf. Each-way claims.

Form: 9551-18

(4)

Dark Pine^b²²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Cameron Noble⁽³⁾| T: D Loughnane| OR: 97| D

33/1

Improved performer upon joining this yard, making it 3 wins from 5 starts at Chester (10.3f) in May. Never featured in big-field handicap at Ascot last month and this another tough assignment.

Form: 7-11910

(24)

Surrey Pride⁵⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: P Mulrennan| T: J Tuite| OR: 96| CD

4/1

Progressed well to bag 10f handicaps at Newbury and Chester last term and stepped up again to make a winning return over C&D in May. That form has worked out well and he's one to consider again.

Form: 11557-1

(3)

Cockalorum⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: Rowan Scott| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 95| D

40/1

Ended 2020 in good order and picked up where he left off this spring, landing handicaps at Musselburgh/Redcar during late May. Career-high mark to defy in tougher race now, though.

Form: 313-211

(8)

Bright Start^p²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: P Cosgrave| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 95| D

18/1

Opened account over extended 9f at Meydan in January and remained in form since, collared late on over this trip at Chelmsford in June. Still low-mileage on turf and another holding each-way claims.

Form: 42-1222

(18)

Fishable^p,t⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 95| D

18/1

Back-to-back winner of Ripon handicaps (9.7f) last summer and back on the up returned to that venue in May, battling well. Has gone well here previously but this demands another career best.

Form: 023-481

(13)

Good Birthday^v¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Callum Hutchinson⁽⁷⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 92| D

33/1

Back on-song with a visor enlisted this spring, holding off pair of next-time-out winner to land Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar in May. Not in same form at Newmarket (10f) in June but no forlorn hope.

Form: 88-8D14

(10)

Strait Of Hormuz³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: Thore Hammer-Hansen⁽³⁾| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 91| D

14/1

Winner at Haydock and Doncaster last summer who wasn't disgraced after 7 months off when fading seventh over 11.8f here in May. However, failed to build on that at Epsom next time. Others stronger.

Form: 5219-76

Non-Runners

(21)

Palavecino²⁵

Weight: 9-10| Age: 5

T: B J Meehan J: M Dwyer

(23)

Data Protection¹

Weight: 8-7| Age: 6

T: W Muir & C Grassick J: Lewis Edmunds

Forecasts

Astro King (4/1), Surrey Pride (4/1), Aaddeey (15/2), Lucander (10/1), Strait Of Hormuz (14/1), Dawaam (14/1), Ascension (14/1), Fishable (18/1), Al Zaraqaan (18/1), Bright Start (18/1), Winter Reprise (20/1), What's The Story (20/1), Nicholas T (20/1), Data Protection (20/1), Palavecino (20/1), Johnny Drama (22/1), Good Birthday (33/1), Dark Pine (33/1), Cockalorum (40/1), Hartswood (40/1), Victory Chime (40/1), Sky Defender (66/1)

A winner on return at Nottingham in April, ASTRO KING has improved further in defeat subsequently, finishing a solid second in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot in June, making no impression on the winner but keeping on well. The return to 1¼m is worth exploring and he's fancied to make another bold bid. Surrey Pride scored impressively over C&D in May and is feared, ahead of Aaddeey and Winter Reprise.