Jorvik Handicap Tips & Betting Preview

Many of the fancied runners come here in great form with both the market and ourselves siding with Roger Varian’s Gibbs Hill who remains unexposed for a yard in rude health at present. He made the best possible start in handicaps on his final three-year-old outing, winning at Sandown when gamely holding on from a late challenger. Off a 6lb higher mark, he returned this season when putting in an improved performance to win readily on the All Weather at Wolverhampton, roaring clear when asked under hands and heels. He has been raised nine pounds as a result, but he is clearly progressive. The return to soft turf should be appreciated so another weight increase is unlikely to stop him from going very close under Andrea Atzeni.

Another last time out winner, Sir Michael Stoute’s Fidaawy will be looking to gain his fourth win. He posted a career best last season when ripping apart a field at Doncaster in August ahead of this year’s Victoria Cup winner Fastnet Tempest. He then returned this season when making all at the same venue in April. As a result he was raised 5lb, yet he should strip much fitter this time and has won on good to soft ground in the past. He was sent off favourite for a handicap at Salisbury in September, the only time that he has encountered genuinely soft ground and he was very disappointing. That was his last run of the season so there may have been an underlying issue or he could have been over the top, but he has a little bit to prove with so much rain having gotten into the ground.

William Knight will be happy that the rain dance he will have been doing all week for Southdown Lad has been answered. He picked up a big prize at Newbury last September when faced with these conditions at this trip. He is a strong galloping type and although from a mark of 94, he is arguably handicapped to the hilt, his ability to handle these conditions is going to be a huge plus for his chances. There are a couple of front runners in the race so this looks like being a proper test, something that he is likely to relish.

Burguillos is an interesting one having travelled strongly throughout when winning at Nottingham on his seasonal return. He was progressive for Alan King last season, picking up where he left off with a fluent success. He has won on good to soft, so the ground shouldn’t hinder him too much, although the extra quarter of a mile is an imponderable. There are mile and a half winners in the damline but the grip he takes in his races is a concern, if he settles in the early stages, he may get home but that is a risk backers will be taking.