Sky Bet Melrose Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPlus Race)

York

14:25

Date 2025-08-23

Distance 1m5f188y

Class Class 2

Going Good To Firm

Type Flat

Surface Turf

Age Band 3yo

Prize £87,618

Runners (12)

EW Terms: 3 places, ¼ odds (standard bookmaker terms — may vary)

#	Horse	Jockey / Trainer	Wt	Gear	Form	OR	RPR	TS	Last	Crs	Dst	Val	Scr	EW	Odds
6 (8)	Many Men Bay J:Oisin Murphy T:Jim Boyle	J:Oisin Murphy T:Jim Boyle	130	—	153181	88	105	87	29d	—	—	+13	30.4	1.13/1	9/2 18%
The form of his small-field win at Ascot reads well and this thriving gelding is respected
3 (12)	Tarriance Bay J:Colin Keane T:Andrew Balding	J:Colin Keane T:Andrew Balding	135	—	3121	93	104	85	30d	—	—	+20	34.2	1.38/1	11/2 15%
Dug deep to win at Sandown and optimism he'll have more left in the tank; major player
8 (4)	Golden Handshake Bay J:Tom Marquand T:William Haggas	J:Tom Marquand T:William Haggas	130	—	9211	88	103	96	36d	—	—	+21	32.1	2.00/1	8/1 11%
Up in grade but unexposed and on a hat-trick; in-form trainer won this in 2019 and 2022
11 (6)	Sea Of Kings Chestnut J:Daniel Tudhope T:Harry Eustace	J:Daniel Tudhope T:Harry Eustace	125	t	2325	83	102	90	22d	—	—	+7	17.8	2.25/1	9/1 10%
Kept on from well back for fifth of 13 over 1m3f at Goodwood; interesting up in trip
12 (1)	Novelista Chestnut J:Joe Fanning T:Charlie Johnston	J:Joe Fanning T:Charlie Johnston	125	—	3-6224	83	103	88	24d	—	—	+3	13.2	2.00/1	8/1 11%
Has twice gone close over 1m6f this summer and has each-way claims now back up in trip
4 (11)	Pole Star Bay J:Connor Beasley T:Charlie Johnston	J:Connor Beasley T:Charlie Johnston	132	—	421611	90	105	84	30d	—	—	+24	33.7	2.25/1	9/1 10%
1m6f handicap wins the last twice; clearly progressive and he's one to consider
2 (10)	Daiquiri Bay Chestnut J:Rossa Ryan T:Alan King	J:Rossa Ryan T:Alan King	135	—	3-1284	93	100	93	23d	—	—	+6	15.4	2.25/1	9/1 10%
Respectable efforts in hot 1m4f/1m2f handicaps and his dam won at up to 2m; not ruled out
7 (2)	Fantasy World Bay J:P J McDonald T:Andrew Balding	J:P J McDonald T:Andrew Balding	130	—	7-3311	88	102	76	30d	—	—	+4	11.6	2.75/1	11/1 8%
Stayed on well for 11.4f win on handicap debut at Yarmouth; has staying potential; chance
10 (3)	Talismans Time Bay J:Callum Rodriguez T:Edward Bethell	J:Callum Rodriguez T:Edward Bethell	127	—	34-11	85	102	87	42d	—	—	+4	10.7	3.00/1	12/1 8%
Hamilton handicap debut win came against older horses in small field but he did it readily
1 (7)	Boatswain Chestnut J:William Buick T:Simon & Ed Crisford	J:William Buick T:Simon & Ed Crisford	135	—	12274	93	104	94	30d	—	—	+13	18.4	4.00/1	16/1 6%
Hasn't shown enough in his two handicaps to suggest he'll be winning this
5 (9)	Cape Breton Bay J:Richard Kingscote T:Ralph Beckett	J:Richard Kingscote T:Ralph Beckett	131	—	1-2614	89	104	91	24d	—	—	+13	18.4	4.50/1	18/1 5%
Fourth of nine at Glorious Goodwood and improvement is needed now up in trip
9 (5)	Love Talk Bay J:Jason Hart T:Grant Tuer	J:Jason Hart T:Grant Tuer	127	—	-39432	85	103	75	6d	—	—	+15	16.9	16.50/1	66/1 1%
Has run over various trips; this is a new one; others have more substance to their claims

Horse	bet365	William Hill	Boyle Sports	Ladbrokes	Unibet
Many Men	4/1	9/2	9/2	9/2	9/2
Tarriance	5/1	11/2	11/2	11/2	11/2
Golden Handshake	15/2	8/1	15/2	15/2	8/1
Sea Of Kings	8/1	8/1	8/1	9/1	15/2
Novelista	13/2	15/2	7/1	7/1	8/1
Pole Star	8/1	17/2	17/2	17/2	9/1
Daiquiri Bay	9/1	9/1	9/1	8/1	9/1
Fantasy World	11/1	11/1	11/1	11/1	11/1
Talismans Time	12/1	12/1	12/1	12/1	12/1
Boatswain	14/1	16/1	14/1	14/1	16/1
Cape Breton	18/1	16/1	16/1	16/1	16/1
Love Talk	66/1	50/1	50/1	50/1	50/1

Predictor

Scored on Official Rating (max 30), Recent Form (max 25), and Market Odds (max 20). Max score: 75.

1st

Tarriance

34.2

OR: 10.8 Form: 19.4 Odds: 4

11/2

2nd

Pole Star

33.7

OR: 10 Form: 21 Odds: 2.7

9/1

3rd

Golden Handshake

32.1

OR: 9.5 Form: 19.5 Odds: 3.1

8/1

Many Men

30.4

OR: 9.5 Form: 15.9 Odds: 5

9/2

Boatswain

18.4

OR: 10.8 Form: 6 Odds: 1.6

16/1

Cape Breton

18.4

OR: 9.8 Form: 7 Odds: 1.6

18/1

Sea Of Kings

17.8

OR: 8.3 Form: 6.5 Odds: 3.1

9/1

Love Talk

16.9

OR: 8.8 Form: 7.7 Odds: 0.5

66/1

Daiquiri Bay

15.4

OR: 10.8 Form: 2.1 Odds: 2.5

9/1

Novelista

13.2

OR: 8.3 Form: 2.1 Odds: 2.9

8/1

Fantasy World

11.6

OR: 9.5 Form: 0 Odds: 2.1

11/1

Talismans Time

10.7

OR: 8.8 Form: 0 Odds: 1.9

12/1

Ratings

Horse	OR	RPR	TS
Tarriance	93	104	85
Daiquiri Bay	93	100	93
Boatswain	93	104	94
Pole Star	90	105	84
Cape Breton	89	104	91
Many Men	88	105	87
Golden Handshake	88	103	96
Fantasy World	88	102	76
Talismans Time	85	102	87
Love Talk	85	103	75
Sea Of Kings	83	102	90
Novelista	83	103	88

Last Run

Horse	Last Run	Status
Love Talk	6d ago	Quick return
Sea Of Kings	22d ago	Fit
Daiquiri Bay	23d ago	Fit
Novelista	24d ago	Fit
Cape Breton	24d ago	Fit
Many Men	29d ago	Fit
Tarriance	30d ago	Fit
Pole Star	30d ago	Fit
Fantasy World	30d ago	Fit
Boatswain	30d ago	Fit
Golden Handshake	36d ago	Fit
Talismans Time	42d ago	Fit