Fourth Race 7.00

THE CAPTAIN IVY’S HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 4) for four yrs old and upwards x Total prize fund £12650 Owners Prize Money. 1st £5223, 2nd £2612, 3rd £1305, 4th £653, 5th £326. (Penalty Value £6621)

City Selections

Turned out quickly under a 5lb penalty after a taking victory at Lingfield, MICK’S SPIRIT must hold every chance of following up with Sean Levey retaining the ride. Disqualified and placed second after finishing first past the post at Newcastle, Dusky Prince will be looking for compensation, while Harb has only been outside the first two home once in five starts here.

Leading course trainer (17-22): M Appleby (75 wins from 627 runners, 12%) runs BLIND BEGGAR

Trainer-in-form (last 14 days): M Appleby (7 wins from 46 runners, 15%) runs BLIND BEGGAR

Longest Traveller: ATIYAH trained by D & N Barron, Thirsk, 214 miles.

Threewinsfrom15runslastyear Firstpastpost(subsequentlydisqualifiedandplacedsecond)havingcausedsignificant interferencewithnearestrivallateon.Clearlyingoodheartandheshouldgowellagainundergoodvalueclaimer.

Pat Beirne B & M Pallets Ltd S

TIMEFORMVIEWKnuckleddownwellwhenendinglonglosingrunatSouthwell(6f)inDecember NotinsameformatNewcastle (6f)earlyonlastmonthbutnosurprisetoseeabettershowingreturnedto5fwithvisorreachedfor

3 POP DANCER (IRE) (12) 1114-40 CD

6 9-8 (1)

Br B g Kodiac - Pop Art (IRE) Rossa Ryan J

O Mr B. J. Millen Tony Carroll, Cropthorne T

B Marston Stud Millen Hotels S

TIMEFORM VIEW In cracking form when completing a hat-trick in the autumn, with the final leg coming at Lingfield (5f) in November Respectableeffortsnext2startsandthislessdemandingthanhislatestassignmentbackatthatvenue12daysago.

4 PARISIAC (IRE) (12) 00060-0 4 9-6 (7)

Br B g Kodiac - Colgin Kieran O’Neill J

O Gary Allsopp and A Haynes Alice Haynes, Newmarket T

B Gce Farm Ltd Colourpin, Allsopp & Allsopp S

TIMEFORM VIEW Tenth of 11 in handicap (33/1) at Southwell (7.1f) 12 days ago, possibly unsuited by step up in trip. Markhaseasedalittlemoreaheadofthisbutothersarrivewithmorepressingclaims.Hoodfitted. TFRHHIII BHA77

5 HARB (GB) (21) 16510-2 C D

4 9-6 (3)

Br B g Muhaarar - Maid For Winning (USA) Shane Kelly J

O Gallagher Bloodstock Limited Peter Crate, Reigate T

B Boyce Bloodstock & Mrs C. E. Percival Gallagher Group Ltd. S

TIMEFORM VIEW Course winner Latest win at Lingfield in December Creditable second of 6 in handicap at this C&D (9/4)21daysago.Cangiveagoodaccountoncemore.

TFRHHHHI BHA77

6 LA ROCA DEL FUEGO (IRE) (12) 04210-5 CD 7 9-3 (4)

Br Br g Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) - Reign (IRE) George Bass (3) J

O Mr M. Drake Geoffrey Deacon, Compton T

B Ms M. Davison & Ms D. Kitchin

TIMEFORM VIEW 5-time course winner, the latest over C&D in December 20/1, fifth of 8 in handicap at Lingfield (5f,AW)12daysago.Presentmarkdemandsthatlittlebitmore.

7 ATIYAH (GB) (21) 16400-4 CD

TFRHHHII BHA74

5 9-3 (2)

Br Br m Swiss Spirit - Jofranka Connor Beasley J

O Mrs Anne Atkinson & Partner

David & Nicola Barron, Thirsk T

B Harrowgate Bloodstock Ltd Tote S

TIMEFORMVIEWIngoodformlastspring,includingaC&Dwin,butwellbelowherbestthiswinter,albeitstoppingtheslidetoadegree whenfourthin6-runnerC&Deventlatest.Still,needstostepupagainifshe’stoplayaleadrolehere TFRHHIII BHA74

Br B g Swiss Spirit - Fortunately

O John C Davies and Partner Conrad Allen,

B Dalwhinnie Bloodstock Arabian Shield Insurance Company

TIMEFORM VIEW 7/2, career best when winning 7-runner handicap at Lingfield (5f, AW) 6 days ago, plenty in hand.

Nosurprisetoseehimoutunderapenaltyandwhilstthisratestougher,hecan’tbediscounted. TFRHHHHI BHA67(+7)

DECLARED RUNNERS 8

2022:NO CORRESPONDING RACE LAST YEAR

Hood worn first time by No. 4. Visor worn first time by No. 2. Blinkers worn by No. 1. Visor worn by No. 8.

Sheepskin Cheek Pieces worn by No. 3.

Stewards Note:

BLIND BEGGAR: Following its run on 2/1/2023 it was reported that the trainer could not explain the poor run.

Probable S.P’s: 3-1 Mick’s Spirit (GB), 4-1 Dusky Prince (IRE), 9-2 Harb (GB), 13-2 Blind Beggar (IRE), 10-1 La Roca Del Fuego (IRE), 11-1 Pop Dancer (IRE), 16-1 Parisiac (IRE), Atiyah (GB) PLAY SMARTER

Plenty in with a shout and it could just be worth chancing BLIND BEGGAR. A winner on debut for Mick Appleby in December, he failed to match that level at Newcastle since but a first-time visor could just put an edge on him back at 5f and he remains on a workable mark. Lingfield scorer Mick’s Spirit and Dusky Prince head up the dangers.