Racecards
16:20 York
Sporting Index Handicap (Class 2)
- 15 Runners
- Distance: 6f
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- £20,000 added
- Form 610-422
- Age 5
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer R M Whitaker
- Jockey M Stainton
held up, ridden along half way, stayed on towards finish
- Form 00-0355
- Age 5
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer D Nicholls
- Jockey Adrian Nicholls
chased leaders, ridden along halfway, weakened final furlong
- Form 520302
- Age 8
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer D Nicholls
- Jockey S De Sousa
slowly into stride and towards rear, chased along halfway, headway on outer over 1f out, ran on final furlong, nearest at finish
- Form 07600-9
- Age 8
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 97
steadied at start, held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, effort and one pace final furlong
Dream Theme
237- Form 1130/30-
- Age 5
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer D Nicholls
- Jockey M Fenton
dwelt and towards rear, ridden along and headway over 1f out, one pace final furlong
- Form 420-040
- Age 4
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 95
in touch, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
- Form 470870-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer J & S Quinn
- Jockey R Winston
towards rear, effort over 2f out, no impression
- Form 280020-
- Age 5
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer B Smart
- Jockey P Mulrennan
slowly into stride and always rear division
- Form 7/12414-
- Age 4
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey R L Moore
tracked leader, ridden along 2f out, led approaching final furlong, ran on
- Form 1610-00
- Age 5
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 90
held up towards rear, headway when not much room and stumbled over 1f out, not recovered
- Form 6090-00
- Age 6
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer J & S Quinn
- Jockey Graham Gibbons
chased leaders to halfway
- Form 14270-5
- Age 6
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey D Allan
prominent, ridden over 2f out, one paced until weakened inside final furlong
- Form 1-44411
- Age 6
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer M & D Easterby
- Jockey Kerrin McEvoy
led, ridden tenderly over 1f out, headed approaching final furlong, kept on same pace
- Form 04338-6
- Age 7
- Weight 8-7
- Official Rating 86
never better than mid-division
In depth
Verdict
Damika has been knocking at the door of late and deserves to get his head in front in this competitive handicap at the expense of Buachaill Dona and Machinist. The selection still could be improving at the age of five and was not beaten far at Pontefract or indeed at Newmarket when second to Off The Record. He is now three pounds higher for being narrowly beaten but if running up to his best he has to be thereabouts at the finishing end. Buachaill Dona is still capable of doing damage off his current mark as he showed some speed to finish third in the Meydan over in Dubai last month and has run well on both his domestic outings since. Being one of Dandy Nicholls local tracks he is bound to have his supporters so any market moves should be noted. Machinist is the yards other runner in the race. He won twice last season off a six pound lower mark but he did show signs of coming back to form when second to Reverence at Haydack last time so he can run well again. But for the winner we return to Damika.
Formwatch
Kostar 33-1 (9-4) Prominent until ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 15th of 20, 15l behind Zidane (9-4) at Newmarket 6f lst stk (1) gd in Apr.
Damika (IRE) 16-1 (8-11) Raced far side, chased leaders, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, soon every chance, ran on towards finish, 2nd of 25, hd behind Off The Record (8-12) at Newmarket 6f hcap (2) gd.
Buachaill Dona (IRE) 20-1 (9-4) Towards rear, ridden well over 1f out, stayed on well entering final furlong, nearest at finish, 5th of 14, 4l behind Bertoliver (8-8) at Chester 5f hcap (2) gd.
Machinist (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) In rear, soon pushed along, ridden and headway over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Reverence (9-0) at Haydock 6f stk (2) gd.
Mutamared (USA) 20-1 (9-0) Raced far side, mid-division, effort when not clear run over 1f out, never dangerous, 9th of 25, 4 1/2l behind Off The Record (8-12) at Newmarket 6f hcap (2) gd.
Dream Theme 66-1 (8-13) Mid-division stands side, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened, 20th of 28, 7l behind Advanced (9-9) at Ayr 6f hcap (2) gs in Sept.
Hinton Admiral 66-1 (9-4) Raced stands side, led 2f, chased leader until 2f out, soon weakened, 22nd of 25, 13l behind Off The Record (8-12) at Newmarket 6f hcap (2) gd.
Mastership (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) Slowly into stride, behind, not clear run over 1f out, staying on when hampered inside final furlong, soon eased, 11th of 14, 5l behind Capricorn Run (9-2) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Oct.
Sir Xaar (IRE) 10-1 (9-3) Looked reluctant throughout, behind from halfway, last of 13, 16l behind Capricorn Run (9-7) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Nov.
Tombi (USA) 12-1 (8-12) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, hampered inside final furlong, no extra close home, 4th of 22, 4l behind Tamagin (8-10) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Oct.
Barney McGrew (IRE) 16-1 (8-9) Raced far side, led 1f, chased winner to over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 14th of 25, 8l behind Off The Record (8-12) at Newmarket 6f hcap (2) gd.
Zomerlust 8-1 (8-11) Towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, never dangerous, 11th of 12, 9l behind Turnkey (8-1) at Pontefract 6f hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Apr.
Malcheek (IRE) 16-1 (9-1) In touch, ridden along over 2f out, driven and kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 16, 7l behind Transcend (9-0) at Thirsk 7f hcp 0-90 (3) gs in Apr.
Atlantic Story (USA) 7-2 (9-2) Keen, tracked leader, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, kept on, won at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Mar beating Gallantry (8-5) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Wyatt Earp (IRE) 11-2 (8-12) Towards rear, soon chased along, never troubled leaders, 6th of 10, 11l behind Luscivious (8-4) at Beverley 5f hcp 0-95 (3) gs in Apr.
Rising Shadow (IRE) 100-1 (9-7) Slowly away, always towards rear, 15th of 17, 11l behind Assertive (9-7) at York 6f Yorks Oaks (1) gf.