Kevin Ryan's Bloomington Bride can prove up to landing this maiden on her third start. The Fast Company filly shaped with promise over C&D (soft) on debut in May and came forward for that when beaten a head and a neck into third spot at Nottingham (5f, good) early in June. There were a couple of subsequent winners behind her there, while the front pair have run well enough in better company since (winner fourth in a Glorious Goodwood nursery this week). With conditions and track to suit, Bloomington Bride can prevail.
Dual French winner Safran hasn't been with David O'Meara long and is fancied to build on his close fourth at York nine days ago. That was just his third start for this trainer, and he defied an SP of 50/1 when making eye-catching late progress between rivals to be beaten just a little over a length at the line. His trainer is likely to eke more from him before too long, and, from an unchanged mark, Danny Tudhope's mount should throw his hat in the ring again.
Give It Some Teddy was a well-beaten 25/1 chance in this race in 2019 and remains without a win since a quick-fire Redcar double that same autumn, but recent signs have been positive. He is back with the Tim Easterby team now, and there have been near misses in recent months at Carlisle (twice) and York. Most recently, he was second in a 19-runner handicap on the Knavesmire last month behind the re-opposing Challet, never nearer than at the line having adopted hold-up tactics while the winner was on the speed. If he builds on that and gets the breaks, Give It Some Teddy should be one of the more interesting bigger-priced runners in this Summer Cup, and he is 7lb below his previous win-mark still.
David O'Meara has his team in flying form right now (21 per cent strike-rate in recent weeks) and, while not necessarily enjoying his share of success at this venue in 2021, it's worth recalling he had a 32 per cent Thirsk strike rate last year. Doctor Parnassus looks well up to getting him on the scoresheet here. The 3YO Make Believe gelding has been improving with each start recently and was narrowly denied in a good race at Haydock last time over this sort of trip. Two of the three that finished behind him won their next start, and this unexposed sort is fancied to follow suit.
It can pay to be handy at Thirsk’s mile-and-a-quarter circuit, with prominent runners having a solid record at the North Yorkshire track. One of the north’s more picturesque venues, Thirsk retains its country charm and friendly welcome throughout it’s 15-meeting calendar.
Home to racing for nearly 150 years, the track’s highlight is the Thirsk Hunt Cup, established in 1872 and won on multiple occasions by Richard Fahey and Kevin Ryan in recent times.
