'He has a better chance than the betting suggests' - Sky Bet Handicap quotes

Sky Bet Handicap (Heritage Handicap) | 3yo+ | 1m4f | ITV/RTV

If only all races were as easy to solve as the Nunthorpe – find the fastest horse and watch it whizz home.

Trying to pick the winner of a middle-distance handicap in a big field at York is like being a frustrated HR manager: you will probably not find the perfect candidate, so choose the one who matches most of the criteria and whose price is right.

You hope for something progressive and potentially ahead of his mark, such as recent unlucky Goodwood loser Lord Protector who had won four of his previous eight starts.

Yet this course does not always lends itself to his come-from-behind tactics, nor does the tight home bend make things easy for one drawn as wide as him.

Similarly, an outside stall makes the more prominently ridden Juan De Montalban, who has won his last two races at this trip in the style of an improving handicapper, a less than entirely compelling prospect at the top of the betting.

Cormier has developed an attractive habit of winning competitive handicaps over hurdles and defied a wide draw with a come-from-behind success on his return to the Flat at Chester that hinted at plenty more to come.

Yet that hint has not been lost on odds compilers and he has been withdrawn on account of unsuitably quick ground three times in the last year or so: a bit of overnight rain may well not go amiss for him.

Charging Thunder is a progressive four-year-old with a good draw, a string of good efforts to his name and Ryan Moore booked, having met traffic congestion in the Shergar Cup, while the well-treated Parachute is better than he showed at Chester last time.

And don't ignore Dark Jedi, who has finished second and then third in this race under Duran Fentiman in the last two years and equalled his best Racing Post Rating when just pipped at Musselburgh last time.
Race analysis by David Carr

Rising star chases first York win

The rise and rise of Kevin Philippart de Foy shows no sign of slowing – and it could be accelerated further if he can secure a first win at York when running the progressive Juan De Montalban.

In only his third year with a licence, the Newmarket trainer has already sent out 40 winners this term, two of them coming from the four-year-old, and the trainer seeks to add to a pair of wins in Ascot handicaps.

Victory in this Sky Bet-backed handicap would give Philippart de Foy the most valuable success of his career and a chance to promote his business on a big stage, both of which he knows could only be useful.

"It's very important for a trainer to be competitive in these races and it would be great to win a big handicap with him," he said.

"We had been thinking of running in the Ebor but we've decided to give him another run over a mile and a half. York should certainly suit him and he is still in good form, although he does need to deal with a wide draw. It's a bit of a concern and we might need to use him a bit more early on, but we can hopefully keep a bit for the end of the race."

What they say

Thady Gosden, joint-trainer of Amtiyaz
He hasn't run since the summer of last year. He won the Copper Horse off 95 and is up 5lb from then but he's a year older and has developed nicely. He has strengthened up and been training very well, although there will be fitter horses running against him and he should come on for the run plenty.

Hollie Doyle: will be bidding to follow up her 2021 Royal Ascot success on AmtiyazCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

William Haggas, trainer of Mahrajaan
He runs in cheekpieces for the first time. We thought he came to win last time but he didn't. He did, though, eradicate the memory of an awful run at York the time before. I hope it's not simply the case that he doesn't want to go a yard at York, but we're going to find out.

Tim Easterby, trainer of Dark Jedi
He's in great form and should run a big race, but I'd ideally like it a bit softer. If they get it, every drop of rain counts for him.

Brian Ellison, trainer of Onesmoothoperator and Cormier
Cormier would have a good chance and he has already won at York, which is massive, but he does want softer ground – in fact, the softer the ground the better his chance. The owner will decide if he runs. We gave Onesmoothoperator a break after the Plate and he then ran a blinder from a poor draw at Ascot, where he got stuck on the outside. He has come out of that great and has a better draw this time.

Roger Varian, trainer of Angel Power
She's in good form. She was unlucky not win at Ascot last time and should have finished closer than she did. If she reproduces that form she'll run a very good race.

Ed Walker, trainer of Parachute
He's in cracking form and has a better chance than the early betting might suggest. Having begun to frustrate me, he looked as though he was getting back on track when winning under William Buick at Newbury in June. You can ignore his next run at Chester as that course didn't suit him.
Reporting by Lee Mottershead

Friday's race previews:

2.25 York: Stradivarius camp 'excited' as staying legend bids to extend unbeaten York run

3.00 York: can Karl Burke land another big race with juvenile 'everybody's talking about'?

3.35 York: 'It would mean the world' – Tate chases 'special' Nunthorpe with Royal Aclaim

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