Thirsk Preview: Gowanharry can score for in-form Dods

Trainer Michael Dods has his team in terrific form, and Gowanharry holds leading claims of providing him with another success in the 5f handicap at Thirsk today (4.45).

The mare is a consistent sort who has returned to form in recent weeks and posted some really solid efforts to finish in the frame on her last four starts.

In the last of those over 5f at Ayr, Gowanharry showed plenty of early dash to lead until getting collared close home and beaten just 3/4 of a length by Master Bond.

It was an effort which suggested the five-year-old’s winning turn was not far away, and although now 1lb higher, Gowanharry has underfoot conditions to suit and a great draw to exploit in stall 12.

High numbers have a massive advantage in sprint’s at the track, and the daughter of Choisir has enough early toe to bag the favorured stands side rails and adopt catch-me-if-you-can tactics.
In the 1m handicap (3.45), Instant Attraction looks weighted to run a huge race.

The Jedd O’Keefe trained gelding finished an excellent sixth of 18 to the classy That’s The Spirit in a hot class 3 handicap at York earlier in the season off a mark of 82, and backed that up with a solid fourth to Muteela in a similar grade affair at Newmarket off the same rating.

The three-year-old now gets into this class 4 contest off 2lb lower, having shaped really well last time out when a close up third to Fieldgunner Kirkup at Redcar.

That makes Instant Attraction look on a handy mark, especially with Jack Garrity in the saddle taking another 5lb of the son of Tagula’s back.

Old Man Clegg runs off a career-low mark in the 6f contest that closes the card (5.15) and it would be no suprise to see him bounce back to form and take advantage now dropped in trip on ground which suits.
The Mick Easterby trained gelding has only won once, with that success coming in a 7f nursery on good-to-soft ground at York back in August 2012 where he stayed on well to beat Salutation by a short-head off a rating of 67.
That is strong form in the context of this class 6 contest, especially as Old Man Clegg now runs off a rating of just 58.

Although the four-year-old has not been at his best in two starts this season, he did show plenty of pace in the first of those over 7f at Catterick when leading until weakening late on and the drop back to 6f may well suit judged on that effort.