16:10 York
GoodSky Bet The World’s Gone Football Handicap (GBBPlus Race)
- First Prize: £36078
- 1m 2f 56y
- Class 2
- 16 runners
RTV
Runners: 16 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Sunny
Form: 2490/0 CD
OR: 102
W: 9st 12lb
Age: 9 yo Colt
Top handicap form when nosed out in the John Smith's Cup over C&D and again when scoring at the Ebor meeting and picking up the Cambridgeshire in 2023; 0-7 since and he beat one home on his return from a hefty absence/wind surgery at Newmarket in May; should build on that comeback but may need another run or two before becoming of interest.
Form: 821-1
OR: 94
W: 9st 4lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Lightly raced 4yo who returned a very useful RPR when taking a Windsor maiden (1m) around a year ago; subsequently gelded and he returned with a winning handicap debut over that C&D (also good to firm) 18 days ago; has some stamina in the family and this step up in trip should be no problem for this unexposed sort.
Form: 00-411 D
OR: 94
W: 9st 4lb
Age: 6 yo Colt
Very close to his best when beating 13 others to land Newbury handicap in April and he made all at Epsom (also 1m2f, good) ten days later; may have been fortunate to beat a subsequently impressive winner on the latter occasion, however, and this career-high mark demands a fair bit more.
Form: 37160- D
OR: 93
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 9 yo Gelding
Ten-time winner who was close to a lifetime best when bagging Doncaster handicap (1m2f, soft) at the Leger meeting in September; still marooned on this career-high mark despite two subsequent defeats but his form figures after a 50-day break or more read 32112913 and he won't mind if the rains come.
Form: 08530-
OR: 92
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 5 yo Colt
Inconsistent individual but he was placed in a French Group 2 when trained there in 2024; beat a total of two horses in his last four starts for Joseph O'Brien and left that yard for 8,000gns in October; subsequently gelded and makes his stable debut with plenty to prove.
Form: 633-13 DBF
OR: 91
W: 9st 1lb
Age: 4 yo Gelding
Haydock maiden winner on last year's return and he again made a successful reappearance when impressively taking ten-runner Nottingham handicap (1m2f, good) in April; bit below that form when beaten 8l at Goodwood (City Of Delight second, Urban Glimpse behind) off this mark six weeks ago, however.
Form: 3-7181 D
OR: 91
W: 9st 1lb
Age: 6 yo Gelding
Better than ever when he won five times last year and he's carried on that good work this term, scoring at Ripon (1m2f, good to soft) in April and again over that C&D (good) a fortnight ago; that's arguably his favourite track but he's got form here too and can't be dismissed in current mood.
Form: -05282 D
OR: 90
W: 9st 0lb
Age: 5 yo Colt
Rattled off a four-timer (good to firm/good/soft) in 2024 and landed his first two starts of 2025, latterly the City & Suburban (also 1m2f) at Epsom in April; just one good run from four starts in Meydan this winter but his British return, when second at Goodwood with two of these behind six weeks ago, could be a run to build on.
Form: 47-660
OR: 88
W: 8st 12lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Dual winner for Karl Burke who posted respectable sixths over 1m2f (including here) on first two starts of the year for this yard; raced freely when disappointing over a stiff 1m3f a fortnight ago and the return to this trip looks a positive; added hood may help too.
Form: 31-015
OR: 87
W: 8st 11lb
Age: 4 yo Gelding
Secured the latest of his three wins when taking Redcar handicap (1m, good) in May; stepped up to this trip for the first time when staying-on fifth in the Zetland Gold Cup back there 18 days ago and this fairly progressive sort should have more to offer.
Form: 23/01- D
OR: 86
W: 8st 10lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Placed in all three qualifying runs at two and after a disappointing handicap debut in September, when coming back from an absence, he made the breakthrough at Newcastle (1m2f, AW) 16 days later; subsequently gelded and he brings an unexposed profile to this reappearance.
Form: -00071 D
OR: 86
W: 8st 10lb
Age: 5 yo Gelding
Ex-Irish gelding who won his first two starts for this yard; took four runs to get going this term but he was strong in the betting when cashing in on a reduced mark at Beverley (1m2f, good to firm) a fortnight ago; handicapper has wasted no time putting him back to this career-high mark, though.
Form: 0-9703 D
OR: 85
W: 8st 9lb
Age: 5 yo Gelding
He went very close in 15-runner handicap over C&D (good to firm) at the Ebor meeting in August and secured the latest of his four wins when bagging 1m2f AW handicap five weeks later; solid effort when keeping-on third of 12 at Carlisle (1m3f) a fortnight ago and he should be on the premises.
Form: -85245 C
OR: 84
W: 8st 8lb
Age: 7 yo Gelding
18 starts here have yielded five places and a win over 1m4f back in 2023, although he wasn't at his best when beating one home in this race last year; in fair form over this trip on AW in the spring but his return to turf, when beaten 8l over 1m4f here one month ago, will need improving on.
Form: 224-62 BF
OR: 84
W: 8st 8lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Went close in C&D handicap (good) at last year's Dante meeting in May; had been gelded when one of three of these who didn't see which way the winner went at Goodwood in May but better effort, albeit well held, when second at Beverley (1m2f, good) a fortnight ago; not fully exposed and gets first-time cheekpieces.
OUR TIP
Form: 632-33
OR: 83
W: 8st 7lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Showed promise in three starts for the Gosdens and it was a cracking stable/handicap debut when third of 15 over C&D (good) at this year's Dante meeting in May; solid show when third at Hamilton last Thursday, despite a drop in distance couting against him, and he's very interesting returned to this trip.
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Betting Forecast
33/1 Astro King, 7/2 Antipodes, 6/1 Rathgar, 25/1 Fantasy Believer, 66/1 Wahdan, 12/1 Love Beach, 12/1 Spioradalta, 10/1 City Of Delight, 16/1 Castle Stuart, 16/1 Rainbow Nebula, 16/1 Cloth Of Gold, 16/1 Sportingsilvermine, 12/1 Per Contra, 20/1 Dark Moon Rising, 9/1 Urban Glimpse, 4/1 Altareq
Verdict
Antipodes (second choice) looks a typical handicap improver for his yard, while Cloth Of Gold is similarly unexposed and Spioradalta has returned better than ever this year. However, the eye is drawn to the foot of the weights, with ALTAREQ (nap) having posted a fine effort on his handicap debut in May and it’s Jim Goldie’s unexposed gelding who gets the vote to open his account returned to this C&D.[Richard Russell]