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Preview -
28 Aug 2007
3.30 City
of Ripon Handicap (Class 3) (3yo+ 0-90) 10F Good to firm
1 – Southern Regret
– The first of two runners for Alan Swinbank and one that is making
his debut for the yard as well as in the UK. Last seen behind
Impeller in the desert when a well-beaten 9th back in
February for his last trainer. Hard to know what quite to fathom
from this race as he could have been flattered to have finished so
close to Lost Solider Three and Wild Savannah, but the handicapper
seems to have him around about the right mark and the market should
be the best guide as the trainer can improve most that he purchase
and the jockey booking of Neil Callen is always interesting for this
trainer.
My Tissue Price – 9/1
2 – Hartshed
– Well beaten last time in quite a competitive class 3 handicap at
Doncaster behind Webbow and the 2nd the time before
behind Ragheed doesn’t look to bad form and his handicap mark has
been dropped again for this run making him well handicapped on form
of last summer. Yet to sparkle so far this season and being stepped
up in trip to try and find some form, the 2nd of two
runners for Alan Swinbank and paired with a claimer to take 3lbs off
that looks much needed based on his form this season. Top of the
ground suits best but the trip may be a concern based on his 9F form
behind Goodbye Mr Bond at York who he meets here today on better
terms.
My Tissue Price – 10/1
3 – Goodbye Mr Bond
– Beat Hartshed comfortably enough at York over 9F last June and
always seems to run his race at this class and has to be one for the
shortlist for this race with trip and ground causing this consistent
performer any problems. Taking a drop in class after finding
youngsters to good for him last time at Haydock over a mile even
though not disgraced in that handicap. Been kept on the go this
season and only victory has come over 9F when beating Baliebrough at
Ayr in a muddling affair and suggestions are that 9F is his best
trip. Good effort when last seen at this level behind Webbow and was
unlucky not to finish much closer having met trouble. Another good
effort in the Zetland Gold cup suggests he is well worth another
chance over this 10F trip and isn’t to badly handicapped on form.
My Tissue Price – 7/4
4 – Vicious Warrior
– Often kept on the go around this time of year and yet another
season where he has picked up prize money with a good win on
desperate ground at York back in July proving his consistent level
having won on most surfaces. Best with cut in the ground and a trip
over a mile, he is a course winner over this distance in his earlier
years and is currently on a winning mark suggesting he could well
still land a handicap such as this but the absence of Dean Mckewon
is eye catching having strike up a great relationship with the
horse.
My Tissue Price – 14/1
5 – Orpen Wide
– Better known these days for his hurdling ability then his ability
to land flat handicaps, he has been seen over sprint trips of late
and has never won over a mile on the flat in his long career for a
5yo. Couldn’t manage to give Emerald Wildness 8lbs at Windsor on his
last effort over this trip and after the claim of his regular flat
pilot today finds himself 13lbs better off at the weights with that
rival for a never nearer 6.5L. The performance however could have
been better if he wasn’t hampered but the horse had to be strongly
rousted from last place and never looked threatening and wouldn’t
want to fall to far off the pace around Ripon.
My Tissue Price – 14/1
6 – Emerald Wildness
– May struggle at the weights with the above but this 3yo has shown
a great attitude so far this season and has ultra consistent form
figures and has progressed well this summer from a early season mark
that is stone lower then his current one. No Penalty for the narrow
defeat last time over a shorter trip and the step back up to 10F
looks very much in favour here and Seb taking over from Frankie
isn’t as much of a negative as it first looks as he has a good
record for Ed Dunlop. Running against in the main a exposed bunch of
handicappers he could go very close to winning another handicap this
season which will see his days in class 3 handicaps well behind him.
My Tissue Price – 4/1
7 – Harvest Warrior
– Has the ability to land handicaps such as this and hasn’t been
disgraced over 10F in his last two starts at Beverley and over this
course and distance. The run at Beverley the form has had a minor
boost with the 3rd going well in Saturday’s big handicap
at the same track but there may be some doubt over the quality of
that race as well as others have flopped again. 3 Time winner over a
mile and yet to win on quick ground Harvest Warrior very rarely runs
a bad race at this track and should once again go close in this
handicap.
My Tissue Price – 9/1
8 – Go Tech – Finished last on last start
behind Ragheed in a small field run race at Redcar last time over a
mile and that was a very poor effort given that he had every chance
and was beaten by a soft ground horse in 4th and meets
Hartshead identically at the weights today. The things he has in his
favour is that he has the services of David Allan today a Jockey
that knows him inside out and the step up in trip is a massive bonus
as he had never won over a mile before maybe suggesting it was no
surprise to see him left behind in a sprint finish in that small ran
race. Likely to reverse the form with Hartshead he may want a
stiffer track but his trainer is double handed in this handicap
today and all wins come after June so this is his time of year.
My Tissue Price – 8/1
9 – Snowed Under
– Leicester specialist and yet to show his form at any other track
having recorded 5 wins over 10F at the Midlands track. Flopped last
time at Leicester and its to be seen if a lesser test of stamina
then what he gets at Leicester is likely to suit. No easing in the
handicap by the handicapper and resumes 3lbs higher then the class 4
handicaps win over the exposed Fabrian who seems past his absolute
best this season. Jockey won on his only ride on the horse but class
3 handicaps and marks over 73 have seen him well beaten in the past.
My Tissue Price – 14/1
10 – Symbol of Peace
– Been mostly campaigned on the all weather, but came good on the
turf when narrowly scoring at Nottingham from Spring Goddess over a
mile on good to firm ground. Has tackled further then today’s trip
on the sharp track at Dunstall park and ran with credit on both
occasions albeit at a lower level where he pulled to hard for his
own good, This easy 10F should well suit and he could well improve
on the awful run he put together on really firm ground at Head
Quarters last time in a easier race then this. Could have been
regarded as disappointing over 9F at Wolverhampton the time before
and very unlikely to get a uncontested lead in what is his hardest
task set to him in a handicap so far even though dropped to a
winning handicap mark.
My Tissue price – 16/1
11 – Little Jimbob
– Have to take note of Richard Fahey runners and this part time
hurdler has quite a few question marks to answer today. Won a
classified stakes race from Everest at Carlisle under stable jockey
over 9F on ground with cut in but doesn’t look the most straight
forward. A winner of a handicap of 74 and well beaten over CD last
time of that mark suggesting he isn’t as good as old. However he has
been dropped 2lbs in the weight and such is the questionable nature
of the horse it could well be that he is on a going day and the form
of the last run can be overlooked as just one of those days he
sulked. Has ground to make up on Harvest Warrior but could easily do
so.
My Tissue Price – 12/1
12 – Suits Me
– Winner last time out and given a much tougher assignment this time
around as he is 1lb out of the handicap for today’s race. Winner on
heavy ground from Smuggles Bay, where he had consistent bench mark
Bajan Parks back in 3rd a horse who runs identical races
every time. The 4lb penalty plus the 1lb to get in the handicap may
have him struggling to follow up here in a much tougher race and the
low weight isn’t enough with the total contrast in conditions to
when last seen at this track, where he handled heavy ground really
well. Twice a quick ground winner in earlier days he lacks true
ability of his 2yo days and can claim a place at best in my view.
My Tissue Price – 20/1
Tissue Prices – Goodbye Mr Bond 7/4,
Emerald Wildness 4/1, Go tech 8/1, Harvest Warrior, Southern Regret
9/1, Hartshead 10/1, Little Jimbob12/1, Snowed Under, Vicious
warrior, Orpen Wide14/1, Symbol of peace 16/1, Suits Me 20/1
Verdict – On a
quite day of racing as the nights draw in, this handicap is half
decent for a Tuesday's racing and there are plenty of ways at
looking at it. Firstly is the improving handicapper Emerald
Wildness, who could still have more to offer against exposed types,
where this handicap holds quite a few. The exposed brigade could see
the ever-young Goodbye Mr Bond record his best win in a handicap at
the age of 7, while Tim Easterby has a well-handicapped 7yo in Go
Tech who could well bounce back to form now over his correct trip.
Southern Regret adds some extra spice to this event on debut for a
trainer who I have a lot of time for, given his National Hunt bumper
horses holding all before them in both codes.
Selection – Go
Tech 2pts win @ 11-1 (BF 12’s) & Goodbye Mr Bond 2pts win @ 7-1
(BF9’s)
Well Chief
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