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Thirsk hosts a competitive card of seven races on Friday, including a Class 2 seven-furlong handicap which has attracted a good field of nine runners.
Former course and distance winner Mount Athos could defy top weight in the 7f Class 2 Anderson Barrowcliff Chartered Accountants Handicap (3:50). The James Tate-trained colt returns to handicap company after a disappointing performance in the Listed City Plate Stakes at Chester in mid-July, where he found the competition too tough. Despite carrying top weight, the four-year-old has good form from earlier in the year including a second behind subsequent Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest second Spycatcher.
WIN: MOUNT ATHOS
Jack Channon's Ingra Tor is an interesting prospect in the 6f Class 3 TWC Draincare Ltd Handicap (3:20), returning to turf after a placed efforts on the all-weather, including a close second in a twelve-runner Class 2 Kempton Park handicap. As a three-year-old, the son of Churchill achieved a peak official rating of 91 following a Class 2 handicap success on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket in April 2022 and has steadily been returning to that mark following a dip in form. Gelded at the end of last year, Ingra Tor appears to have shown some improvement and a return to turf is expected to spark him back to winning ways.
WIN: INGRA TOR
Two debut winners will go head-to-head in the 1m Class 4 Vision PVC Carlton Miniott - Thirsk - EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes (2:50). Godolphin's Cinderella's Dream justified short-priced favouritism when scoring by a neck on debut at Lingfield over seven furlongs, despite showing some signs of inexperience in the early stages of the race. Although the Appleby yard have not sent out many runners in the past fourteen days, they seem to be hitting better form with two victories from the last four.
Shin Jidai represents the Roger Varian stable, who are operating at a 30% strike rate and continuing to fire in the winners. The daughter of Blue Point was a comfortable half-length victor on debut at Newcastle on the all-weather despite finding herself short of room with a furlong to run. She will have learned plenty in a twelve-runner race and should improve for the outing.
WIN: SHIN JIDAI
In the 1m Class 5 British EBF Restricted Novice Stakes (2:20), Bella Wella is tipped to return to winning ways. She caught the eye on debut at Carlisle when making up ground in the closing two furlongs to sweep past the field and win by one-and-a-quarter lengths. The form of her debut has not worked out that well and the daughter of Land Force was very disappointing when last of eleven at York subsequently two weeks later. That said, Bella Wella is a daughter of 1m5f winning dam and the step up in trip will undoubtedly spark further improvement in an open race.
WIN: BELLA WELLA
Trooper Bisdee may prove difficult to beat in the 2m Class 5 Download The Vickers.Bet App Handicap (4:55) in his bid for a hat-trick. He remains unbeaten since stepping up to two miles and was an impressive eight-length winner of a Ffos Las contest when last seen and carries a penalty for that victory. The gelding has improved considerably from two to three, which is typical from the Sir Mark Prescott yard and there is potential for further progression over these staying trips.
WINNER: TROOPER BISDEE
RACING & SPORTS SELECTIONS
RACE 1: HOBSON POINT
RACE 2: BELLA WELLA
RACE 3: SHIN JIDAI
RACE 4: INGRA TOR
RACE 5: MOUNT ATHOS
RACE 6: MY HONEY B
RACE 7: TROOPER BISDEE