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Preview
13 October 2007
3.45 York -
Paddypower.com Sprint Trophy Handicap Class 2 (3yo+ 0105) Good to
soft 6F
1 - Somnus - Course and
distance winner dropped back to today's trip in for a group 1 race
last time and was easily beaten by Red Clubs in a race that is far
out of depth in these days. Entitled to respect if putting up a
performance that was seen at this track last season behind Iffraj
and should be better suited to this six furlong then that off
Haydock. Wont mind cut in the ground but it would take a lot of
faith to be backer of this seven year old against younger more
progressive sprinters of top weight despite the positive jockey
booking and the obvious liking for this track. Drawn towards the
stand side, which may not be totally ideal with the natural
trailblazer right the way over the other side of the track.
Tissue Price - 33/1
2 - Obe Brave - A major
disappointment in the Ayr Gold cup in which he finished last of 28
and a return to the form of his Ripon run would have him much closer
in this handicap. Another course and distance winner he goes well
for today's pilot but wouldn't want to much easing in the ground,
likely to be well to the front on the stand side of the group he
could well struggle to last this trip out despite being suited to a
easy six furlongs.
Tissue Price - 20/1
3 - Rising Shadow - Winner of
this race last term when running well up to his best form last
season and after a in different season he could well return to form
here today at a course he has recorded some of his best runs. Put up
a effort in the Ayr gold cup as good as he did 12 months earlier in
the Ayr Silver cup he ran well despite his finishing position in a
listed race at Redcar last week. Drawn in the middle of the race he
may well stay on, but hasn't got the strong pace this time around
with a few natural front runner's in the race. 9lbs higher in the
handicap this time around he may just be a few pounds high in the
handicap and may need it soft under foot then likely to defy the
current mark.
Tissue Price - 12/1
4 - Viking Spirit - Walter
Swimburn doesn't venture here to often and has just had the one
winner at the track in Fairmile. Didn't stay at Ascot last time in
which he made moderate headway and the drop back to six furlongs
should see a marker improvement. The 2nd to Diane's choice looks the
best piece of form he has to offer recently and the hope is that the
first time visor will bring about the improvement need to defy this
8lbs higher mark then when last successful.
Tissue Price - 16/1
5 - Tawaassol - Likely to cut
out the running on the high side of the draw under Martin Dwyer who
has a good record on the Sir Michael Stoute son or War Chant. Shaped
with much promise after getting to the front over five furlongs over
a furlong shorter only to be gathered in and finishing just out of
the placing. A More restraint approach to this race should help him
over six furlongs which he hasn't contested this season and the
return to handicaps for the first time since finishing a close 2nd
at this track off a 12lbs lower mark. Looked laid out for this
handicap and may well spring a surprise today with being well placed
up with the pace.
Tissue price - 9/1
6 - Dabbers Ridge - Lightly
raced over sprint distances and made light work of a field of half
decent handicappers at Haydock on Soft ground. Got caught a little
on his heels mid race but had enough class in hand under the
conditions which allowed his stamina to come into play. Little
uncertain if he will appreciate this sharper track over six furlongs
the 4lbs rise looks likely to stop him landing this prize. Sprinters
in form are always appreciated. Barry Hills has a fair record at the
track and there could be more to come over sprint trips but a return
to further around a track like this under quicker conditions would
be more suitable. Drawn on the stand side he should be up their with
the pace for most of the race.
Tissue Price - 8/1
7 - Chicken Soup - Yet to
show any form up to this level on turf and current handicap mark was
a result of a profitable all weather campaign and is currently no
less then 30lbs higher then when he won on turf of a mark of 70 back
in August 2006. Given a break of the course his winning for now
looks well past him and needs some help by the handicap until he can
be counted as a contender.
Tissue Price - 66/1
8 - Hoh Hoh Hoh - Has been
running well over five furlongs recently and may not need the return
to six furlong to be at his best. Been campaigned over the minimum
trip for most of the season which has seen him improve into a decent
handicapper and the listed affair of level weights last time was a
bridge too far for him against Tawaassol for whom he has claims at
the weights against today, Whether he has enough improvement to
reverse that form is to be seen and the run at the start of the
season over this six furlong looks much tougher for him now as he
has been raised 16lbs in total this season and best may be a place
effort over this trip today. Shows enough early pace to be well
positioned in the pack his stamina needs to be proved at this level
and others seemly have stronger claims today over six furlongs.
Tissue Price - 14/1
9 - Conquest - Needs to do
much better then he did over five furlongs last time in which he was
hampered and lost all chance, has potential to reverse the form with
those who finished in front behind Judd Street. No penalties
entailed for that performance, he makes his handicap debut as a
former group 2 winners with a nice racing weight for Willie Haggas
and Richard Hughes today. The run before against Galeota over five
was much better then the last run on the book and he isn't without a
chance on this drop in level for the first time. A course and
distance winner in a small field he doesn't mind some cut in the
ground, but just needs to prove that he is as capable over the
furlong extra today. Drawn High he shouldn't be placed too far of
the pace today.
Tissue Price - 16/1
10 - Fonthill Road - Last
season Ayr Gold Cup shock winner didn't run to badly in that race of
a 3lbs higher mark and then ran a fair race at Ascot last weekend
over a furlong further. Holding his form well this season without
winning he has dropped another 1lb in the handicap to be just a
single pound above his Ayr Gold cup win in which he was thought to
have been running on the wrong side of the course. The rendition of
Paul Hanaghan to this horse is a big bonus as he has struck up a
good relationship with the horse who has some solid York form to his
name including a worth while mention of a solid looking 2nd to
Solder's Tale who has gone on to win a group 1 over this trip. Looks
to be holding his form well and the stable are leading York all age
handicapper winners so there is no reason why he can't go well with
a draw behind the strongest front runner in the field.
Tissue Price - 6/1
11 - Philharmonic - The
second string on the bookings for the Fahey stable and one that has
won his customary race at his beloved Beverley Last time. As always
lightly campaigned through out the season and best when some juice
in the ground which is likely today he is yet to produce a
performance over six furlong that merits his superb form over the
shorter trip of five furlongs. Broke his maiden tag at this track
over six furlongs he is drawn among the high numbers and opposite
side of his stable mate. Paul Hanagan has recorded all victories on
this horse and opts for Fonthill Road.
Tissue Price - 14/1
12 - River Falcon - Been
consistently on the go so far this season and finally managed to end
his run of defeats with a win over Hoh hoh hoh over five furlongs
here. Has put up performances over six nearly as well as he has
achieved over the minimum distance and with that in mind should
confirm the form with that Rival. Suited to cut in the turf at his
favoured venue he is well exposed as a handicapper at this level and
may find the 5lbs higher mark then that York win just beyond him in
a race with much more class about it today. Beaten by Dabbers Ridge
last time in comfortable fashion the run at Ayr was far more
convincing in the Ayr Gold Cup but may just struggle to reverse the
running with Fonthill Road on that running with the race more likely
to suit the Fahey runner.
Tissue Price - 16/1
13 - Zomerlust - Ayr and York
lover as the track well documents his talents as a racehorse he has
ground to make up on the likes of Fonthill Road based on the running
given in the Ayr Gold Cup. Couldn't quite muster the speed to land
the spoils in that race he was rather one paced in the finish and
may just lack the added needed class to win a handicap of this
class. Ran a solid race when well fancied at Ripon he was bidding
that day to follow up his handicap win at this track from Turnkey
under very soft conditions. Often goes very well at this track the
slight easing in turf should suit him but he is paired with a jockey
who isn't his usual pilot. Place prospects at best in what looks his
toughest course and distance assignment so far.
Tissue Price - 10/1
14 - Dhaular Dhar - Had the
beating of Fonthill Road at Ascot last time over seven furlongs in
which was his best race recently after flopping over six furlongs in
the Ayr Gold cup and may be best these days over seven furlongs at
this level and may leave it all to late to land this prize. Jim
Goldie pairs him with a claimer to take him down to a low weight for
the likely conditions and the horse may benefit from being sent on
to win his race with a lack of trailblazers in the field and makes
his ability to stay further help him to land this prize.
Tissue Price - 16/1
15 - Golden Dixie - Has had a
hard campaign and looked lacking in life after winning back-to-back
races in the space of eight days for Ron Harris. Suited to six
furlongs he was well beaten in the Portland Handicap at the St
Ledger meeting and maybe this short break will have freshened him up
to give a better account today. Doesn't mind cut in the ground and
stays six furlong well he is also a course winner over five furlongs
so he has a mixture of speed and stamina for this track which will
be well suited today. Often comes from of the pace strongly he may
need to take closer hand in the pack today to have a chance of
landing what would be his biggest prize having failed 18 times to
land a class 2 handicap.
Tissue Price - 25/1
16 - Tournedos - Finally
returned to form when taking a trip to Ireland to win a 5-furlong
Handicap of a mark of 89 after failing to sparkle for the last 12
months. That confidence booster could do him the world of good but
would prefer to see him try over five furlongs again having failed
to give a true account of his ability over six furlongs in the past.
Ground suits as long as it doesn't get to test and Dandy Nichols has
two runners at the right end of the handicap for this race today
with preference for the apparent second string on today's conditions
of the race.
Tissue Price - 25/1
17 - Invincible Force -
Another who took a trip to Ireland to return to form when also
taking a 5-furlong handicap in good style. Had previously caught the
eye with a catching run at Haydock in which he wasn't knocked about
and the yard seems to be in form. However this is a rather tough
test over furlong further and the run at Haydock last time under a
penalty wasn't to fetching and may just need some help by the
handicap to win at this level in the UK. Was beaten far enough by
Zomerlust here over 6F to suggest that the form is very unlikely to
be reversed.
Tissue Price - 33/1
18 - King Orchisios - A lot
depends on this horse today and what splits he sets up front being
the only real natural trailblazer in the field and could try and
slip the field up front today from his low number draw which has
been a advantage over course and distance in this race before when
the ground has had some ease in it. Yet to figure with any real
promise in the last three top handicaps (Portland, Ayr Gold Cup and
Stewards cup) he has been aimed at all the top sprints this season
and hasn't been up to the task so the likely hood of him being able
to run the finish out of this field is highly unlikely and a return
to the all weather is likely to see him go well again. However Neil
Callen returns to the saddle today with a fantastic record on this
horse having missed most of his runs this season and he continues to
drop in the weights to nearing his last turf winning mark. Better
display expected today of a low weight but six may just stretch him
as he is often a free running sort.
Tissue Price - 20/1
19 - Turnkey - Has little in
hand to reverse the form with Zomerlust over this course and
distance and looked very poor last time at Haydock in which he was
outpaced before staying on behind Dabbers Ridge, has to improve on
that running to reverse the form with a few of those. Hard to judge
this horse as he is so in and out as a performer, but the ground
maybe at Haydock wasn't as soft as advertised and better is likely
today at a track he has gone well at in the past but may just find a
couple better handicapped then him and hard to see why he is worse
off with Zomerlust for a second here.
Tissue Price - 20/1
20 - Commando Scott - needs
very soft ground and the conditions at York may not be soft enough
for him to be at his best but as always with a low weight he is
always threatening even though this level of handicap may be just a
shade to tough for him. Better of with Dabbers Ridge on Haydock
running he does have some claims of reversing that form but what has
got to be remembered is that he never got in a blow and was always
comfortably held. May need a furlong more over a flat six furlongs
he may not confirm form with Turnkey today who will be better suited
to the sharper test of stamina. Great servant to connections and
holds his form very well for what will be his 54 run of the season.
Tissue Price - 16/1
Tissue - Fonthill Road 6/1, Dabbers Ridge 8/1, Tawaassol
9/1, Zomerlust 10/1, Rising Shadow 12/1, Hoh hoh Hoh, Conquest,
Philharmonic 14/1, Dhaular Dhar, River Falcon, Commando Scott,
Viking Spirit 16/1, Turnkey, King Orchisios , Obe Brave 20/1.
Tournedos, Golden Dixie 25/1, Invincible Force, Somnus 33/1, Chicken
Soup 66/1
Verdict – A
decent handicap as always and one that really links the form of the
major handicaps from the season. Fonthill Road, who has been
running with much credit this season, looks to have a solid chance
at giving Richard Fahey another big race success at York this
season. Tawaassol is a interesting runner back over six furlongs for
a shrewd yard, while Zomerlust, and Dabbers Ridge both have form
against most of these and look likely to confirm their superiority
over those rivals.
Selection –
Fonthill Road
3pts @ 13-2 (BF7's) & Tawaassol
1pt @ 10-1 (BF's13)
Well Chief
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