Thirsk 5.37

 

A typically competitive low grade Thirsk Handicap where to be fair they do seem to be able to attract competitive fields when others can't.

 

At the head of the market Diamondsonthehill carrie a 5lbs penalty and Grigadale a 2lb penalty for a win in the Stewards Room over Beltane , who if you recall we had tipped at 20/1 (returned 18's SP) in a race at Ayr a few weeks back. Both have strong claims but not great market value for me.

 

Dogged has been a runner up 3 times recently off this mark but one of its poorer runs off that mark was the last time it ran here so I'll swerve it on that basis. Diamond Haze is one of a few Course and Distance winners, all out off a mark of 70 to win earlier in the season, its dropping back down the handicap but a mark of 73 still looks a bit on the high side. Grangeclare View remains a tough horse to fathom with glimmers of promise and it is coming down the handicap and should be winning a race soon when it finds the right level. It's one we will TRACK on that basis and it'll be interesting to see how the drop in trip pans out, on this ground I just think it could get caught for toe at some point.

 

Cosmic Power may be another to follow later on but will surely need the run off a 638 day break and Parys Mountain steps up to mile for the first time in ages and may run better for that decision to try a new trip at big odds. If you wanted one at a bigger end odds for a £1 each way don't rule out SAISONS D'OR who gets a nice draw in Stall 1, can run prominently winning at Beverley off a mark of 71 and runner up off the same mark at Musselburgh, it runs off 72 and if it breaks and takes a prominent position may be tough to pass.

 

The pair I think are ready to win though are FROG AND TOAD for David O'Meara who was a Course and Distance winner off a mark of 68 in May drawn 12 on that occasion and who had run well at the track before that placing over 7 furlongs, its back below the mark of 70 (off 69) and ticks all the boxes for me here. ELIGIBLE is another its impossible to ignore. Its won at the trip at Pontefract and placed at Doncaster, off marks of 65 and 68, they switch headgear and it can do some damage also off a mark of 69.

 

TRACKERS - Frog And Toad + Eligible (£1 e/w on Saisons D'Or @ 14/1 to 4th place)