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13:40 York

William Birch And Sons Construction Handicap (Class 2)

  • 12 Runners
  • Distance: 1m 2f 88y
  • Going: Good to Firm
  • Surface: Turf
  • £25,500 added
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 2m 10.43s
  • Off Time: 13:41:02
  • 12 Ran
1(6)
Silk - Royal Blue, Pink hoop, armlets and cap
16/1
  • Form 30320-5
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-7
  • Official Rating 97

held up, ridden over 3f out, kept on from over 1f out, no impression

2(1)
Silk - Royal Blue, Yellow chevron, Yellow cap, Royal Blue spots
11/2
  • Form 60211-0
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-7
  • Official Rating 97

dwelt, soon pushed along in rear, ridden over 3f out, headway over 2f out, no impression

3(4)
Silk - Yellow, Royal Blue Cross of Lorraine, armlets and cap
9/1
  • Form 0/1490-4
  • Age 5
  • Weight 9-6
  • Official Rating 96

chased winner, ridden to challenge over 2f out, not quicken inside final furlong

4(9)
Silk - White, Red epaulets, striped sleeves and cap
9/2
  • Form 331-833
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-6
  • Official Rating 97

tracked leaders, chased winner over 4f out, ridden over 3f out, one pace

5(3)
Silk - Pink, Emerald Green chevron, halved sleeves, quartered cap
16/1
  • Form 70-3097
  • Age 9
  • Weight 9-4
  • Official Rating 94

chased leaders, no impression from over 1f out

6(8)
Silk - Royal blue
6/1
  • Form 3/13-
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-4
  • Official Rating 94

made all, ridden over 1f out, kept on

7(2)
Silk - Red, White hollow box, striped sleeves, check cap
  • Form 455896-
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-3
  • Official Rating 93

tracked leaders, one pace from over 1f out

8(7)
Silk - White, Royal Blue hoop, diabolo on sleeves, Royal Blue cap
  • Form 102273
  • Age 6
  • Weight 9-2
  • Official Rating 92

always towards rear

9(5)
Silk - YELLOW, royal blue stars, striped sleeves, yellow cap
28/1
  • Form 7356-60
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-1
  • Official Rating 91

pushed along towards rear, ridden over 3f out, never dangerous

10(12)
Silk - White, Black star, diamonds on sleeves, White cap, Black star
14/1
  • Form 005-121
  • Age 9
  • Weight 8-8
  • Official Rating 84

held up mid-division, no impression from over 2f out

11(10)
Silk - Royal Blue, White epaulets, striped cap
  • Form 616/0-2
  • Age 4
  • Weight 8-7
  • Official Rating 83

tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, stayed on final furlong, took 2nd towards finish

12(11)
Silk - Emerald Green, Pink armlets, Pink cap
100/1
  • Form 3/1U9-
  • Age 4
  • Weight 8-7
  • Official Rating 82

held up, ridden over 3f out, never dangerous

In depth

Verdict

Gulf Express can take the opener from Folk Opera and Blue Spinnaker. The selection finished a long way behind King Charles in a Newmarket handicap last week but there are reasons for believing that he can reverse the form this afternoon. Ed Dunlop's runner did nothing wrong and is entitled to be in the shake-up but the selection was a warm order that day and simply didn't run his race. He was forced to race wide and looked in need of his reappearance; with that run under his belt, he can show just why he headed the market last time. The Godolphin team look to be finding their stride now and they have done well in handicaps recently. Folk Opera comes here rather than take up an engagement in a Group race and that looks significant. Her trainer does well here and she looks sure to run a big race but her relative inexperience is a slight concern. Blue Spinnaker is at the other end of the spectrum and the 2006 winner of this race has found his form with a vengeance this season. He's 6lbs lower than when winning two years ago, looks as good as ever and has a clear chance. The likes of Impeller, Tastahil and Smart Instinct are not without a squeak as well but we prefer the claims of Gulf Express.

Formwatch

Ladies Best 9-2 (9-2) Held up in rear, effort over 2f out, hung left over 1f out, no impression, 5th of 6, 13l behind Watamu (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-105 (2) pol.

Gulf Express (USA) 3-1fav (9-4) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway over 3f out, soon ridden, weakened 2f out, 14th of 15, 24l behind Proponent (8-11) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcap (2) gf.

Supaseus 8-1 (9-3) Tracked leader, ridden to challenge over 2f out, one pace approaching final furlong, 4th of 15, 7l behind Proponent (8-11) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcap (2) gf.

King Charles 12-1 (9-3) Behind, headway 2f out, driven to challenge over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 3rd of 15, 3l behind Proponent (8-11) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcap (2) gf.

Impeller (IRE) 50-1 (8-13) Steadied start, settled towards rear, ridden and no impression over 1f out, 7th of 8, 4l behind Kandidate (8-13) at Kempton 1m 2f lst stk (1) pol in Mar.

Folk Opera (IRE) 11-4 (8-12) Tracked leader, joined leader over 4f out, led 3f out, headed 2f out, led again over 1f out, hard ridden final furlong, headed near finish, 3rd of 7, 3/4l behind Kayah (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 3f 3yo lst fll (1) gs in May '07.

Smart Instinct (USA) 10-1 (9-4) Took keen hold and soon in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened and hung left over 1f out, 6th of 12, 5l behind Buccellati (8-10) at Chester 1m 2f 3yo hcp (2) gd in Sept.

Capable Guest (IRE) 8-1 (8-11) Mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on well towards finish, 3rd of 14, 3l behind Extraterrestrial (8-5) at Thirsk 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gd.

Mesbaah (IRE) 40-1 (8-13) Slowly away and always in rear, 16th of 17, 32l behind Lang Shining (8-11) at Newbury 1m hcap (2) sft in Apr.

Blue Spinnaker (IRE) 13-8fav (9-6) Held up, headway on outer over 2f out, driven to lead over 1f out, ran on final furlong, won at Thirsk 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Apr beating Surwaki (9-2) by 6l, 18 ran.

Tastahil (IRE) 25-1 (9-3) Mid-division, headway halfway, led 3f out, soon headed, outpaced approaching final furlong, stayed on well, 2nd of 15, 1 1/2l behind Bankable (9-8) at Ascot 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Apr.

Fort Amhurst (IRE) 8-1 (9-2) Held up, bumped early, never dangerous, 9th of 10, 14l behind Ragheed (8-5) at Newmarket 1m 3yo hcp (3) gf in Jul.