3.50 Thirsk, Wednesday, July 4

In the Follow @Racing_UK on Twitter Handicap (3.50) at Thirsk on Wednesday, Aljady won at Redcar 11 days ago despite hanging badly left in the closing stages and seems sure to be popular on his first venture into handicap company. However, preference on this occasion is for the proven form of Muscika, who won a 0-85 contest at Ayr in taking style on his penultimate start, before just being touched off, after being denied a clear run, off his revised mark in a 0-90 contest at Nottingham three weeks ago.

The Kyllachy gelding needed a couple of runs to find his form, following wind surgery earlier in the year, but his Nottingham effort was about his best yet and he can confirm the form with the third, Red Pike, despite being 4lb worse off for 2½ lengths. A winner over course and distance on his debut for David O’Meara early last season, Muscika has shown his best form on good or faster going – including on firm going at Nottingham last time – so he shouldn’t be unduly inconvenienced if the sun continues to beat down on the North Yorkshire course and he has the best of the draw, in stall 8.

Muscika had just two runs as a juvenile for Richard Hannon and, after what is best described as an “educational” three-year-old campaign – during which he won twice, despite obvious signs of immaturity – is starting to fulfil his potential as a sprinter.

Selection: Thirsk 3.50 Muscika to win 9/2