Racecards
17:00 Thirsk
Richmond Castle Handicap (Class 5)
- 15 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- Form 156774
- Age 8
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer Stef Higgins
- Jockey F Norton
held up, headway on outside over 4f out, ridden to chase leaders over 2f out, no impression final furlong
- Form 027036/
- Age 9
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer G A Swinbank
- Jockey Dean McKeown
held up, always towards rear
Nowell House
56- Form 53/66-00
- Age 9
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer M & D Easterby
- Jockey T Lucas
chased leaders, lost place over 3f out, soon weakened
- Form 431166
- Age 7
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer Mrs S Lamyman
- Jockey P Makin
dwelt, held up towards rear, ridden and stayed on final 2f, never nearer
- Form 922810
- Age 7
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 69
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey D Allan
in touch, ridden and effort over 2f out, one pace final furlong
- Form 111324
- Age 4
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 68
- Trainer Mrs A Duffield
- Jockey T P Queally
in touch, effort 3f out, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace
- Form 1165-87
- Age 8
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 66
- Trainer G A Swinbank
- Jockey N Pollard
never better than mid-division
- Form 17-0389
- Age 6
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 65
- Trainer J Mackie
- Jockey J-P Guillambert
led after 2f to 5f, tracked clear leader, headway to lead again over 2f out, soon ridden, headed just inside final furlong, no extra
- Form 1346/07
- Age 6
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 60
- Trainer M & D Easterby
- Jockey Adele Rothery
mid-division on outside, lost place 4f out, soon behind
- Form 007-42
- Age 5
- Weight 8-2
- Official Rating 58
- Trainer E W Tuer
- Jockey Leanne Kershaw
held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, ridden 2f out, led just inside final furlong, stayed on
- Form 2-630
- Age 4
- Weight 8-1
- Official Rating 57
- Trainer P A Blockley
- Jockey T Dean
held up, always behind
- Form 533353
- Age 6
- Weight 8-0
- Official Rating 56
- Trainer R F Fisher
- Jockey Paul Eddery
in touch, headway 3f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on under pressure final furlong
- Form 293970
- Age 6
- Weight 8-0
- Official Rating 53
- Trainer P Howling
- Jockey D Kinsella
mid-division, some headway over 3f out, soon ridden and weakened
Scurra
21- Form 7-74275
- Age 6
- Weight 8-0
- Official Rating 52
- Trainer A C Whillans
- Jockey J McAuley
led 2f, remained in touch, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, soon weakened
- Form 5-34446
- Age 7
- Weight 8-0
- Official Rating 51
- Trainer W S Kittow
- Jockey A Elliott
pulled hard in mid-division, rapid headway to lead and soon clear after 6f, headed and edged right over 2f out, soon ridden and weakened
In depth
Verdict
A tough closing race that can go the way of Toni Alcala although Malarkey, Prairie Sun and Lucky Judge are all short-listed. Toni Alcala has been something of a talisman for the Roger Fisher yard. Proven over this trip in the past, he put up his best run for some time at Redcar on his most recent start and he is highly interesting given that the handicapper seems to be granting him some respite. Malarkey has been consistent all-season. His fifth to Golden Quest at Haydock reads well after this week's exploits and he can give another good account of himself off top-weight. Prairie Sun has won four times this year but is starting to look as if she is fighting a losing battle with the assessor as a result. Lucky Judge is a winner with cut in the ground. He is watched in the market as is stablemate, Virgin Soldier. Vicar's Destiny is a likeable mare who tries her heart out under both codes. She too would prefer softer going, as would Nowell House. Macaroni Gold has been able to bully poor horses on the all-weather but has never shown too much on the turf. Villago was second in a seller in all but name at Beverley but did have bits and pieces of form in Germany prior to joining the Tuer stable. Toni Alcala is off a fair mark this afternoon and should be a working man's price in the last.
Formwatch
Malarkey 14-1 (9-6) Very slowly away, held up, ridden over 2f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, not trouble leaders, 4th of 8, 1 1/2l behind Mumbling (8-10) at Newbury 2m hcp (4) gf.
Vicars Destiny 10-1 (9-1) Dwelt and behind, headway over 4f out, driven along 2f out, soon outpaced, last of 6, 9l behind Jeepstar (10-0) at Beverley 2m hcp (4) gf.
Bollin Thomas 6-1 (9-5) Mid-division, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 3f out, 10th of 12, 17l behind Moonshine Beach (9-11) at Warwick 2m hcp (5) gs.
Prairie Sun (GER) 3-1 (8-6) With leader, driven to lead over 3f out, headed over 2f out, soon ridden and one pace, 4th of 7, 6l behind Wing Collar (9-4) at York 1m 6f hcp (4) gf.
Villago (GER) 20-1 (9-9) Mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 2nd of 16, 2l behind Nowaday (8-7) at Beverley 2m hcp (5) gd.
Toni Alcala 7-1 (8-11) Tracked leading pair, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, no impression on leaders, 3rd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Argentum (8-7) at Redcar 2m app hcp (5) gf.
Top Trees 9-4 (9-4) Slowly away, raced keenly in rear, driven and outpaced over 3f out, weakened and eased over 1f out, last of 6, 38l behind Friedhelmo (9-4) at Carlisle 1m 6f app hcp (6).
Macaroni Gold (IRE) 11-2 (8-6) Held up in touch, tracked leaders over 4f out, weakened over 3f out, last of 10, 42l behind Most Definitely (9-6) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp (4) gf in Jun.