I’m off down to Devon (again) this weekend to see the family so I won’t be posting tomorrow. With a decent 6f handicap at Ripon taking place Gary’s had a look at the race as he tries to nail one of these big-field sprints before the end of the Season.

With Gary’s thoughts and the free trends guide I’m giving away hopefully we can point you in the right direction…..

FREE TRENDS GUIDE IS HERE…… www.nag-nag-nag.co.uk/stwilfrid.pdf

As you can see from the URL it’s a clean, direct, straight-to-the-guide link with no sign-ups or card details required.

And here are Gary’s thoughts……

Hi All,

It’s been a disappointing season so far for me personally in my favourite types of races so I’m setting my sights on regaining the winning thread at Ripon on Saturday. I’ve still had plenty of winners in 5 & 6F sprints up and down the country, like Dickie Le Davoir only the other night at Hamilton, but the major sprint handicaps have so far eluded me.  My timing seems to be out as I always seem to back the winners of these races too early (Joseph Henry) or the ones I back in the big sprints win next time out (Rasaman). From the Epsom Dash to Stewards Cup its been a bitter disappointment.

However we still have the Great St Wilfred this weekend, York next week, the Portland from Doncaster as well as the Ayr Gold, Silver & Bronze Cups to give me plenty more opportunities to nail that winner. So onto Ripon and a slightly different approach this week as I’m giving each horse a brief write up and a score out of 5….
 
Knot In Wood: A classy sprinter who has won 11 of his 65 starts, the last of which was just over 12months ago off a rating of 103 (he runs here of 107), however he did run 4th in the Wokingham and 3rd in the Ayr Gold Cup of 108 so he is more than capable. His Ripon record though is not so good with just 1 place from 4 attempts including 14/20 in this race 2 years ago.   3/5
 
Rileyskeepingfaith: He’s having a good season with a neck 2nd to Genki and 4th in the Stewards Cup. He won at Newbury back in May off a rating of 97 whereas today he runs of 102. He has no track record and I think he will struggle here.    2/5
 
Quest For Success: Winner of 6 of his 30 races with the last one being over 5F at the end of last season off 95.  He runs here off 100, is back over 6F and coming from stall 1 is not for me.  2/5
 
Signor Peltro: An interesting runner who has been campaigned over varying distances this term with his 4th to Parisian Pyramid over 6F at Windsor back in June being his best this season. His last 2 runs have been over further and this drop back in trip should help. He has no track form which is a slight negative but from a decent draw I give him a good chance at an ew price 4/5
 
Johannes: A winner at York back in May of 95 over 5F but he’s not been in the same form since. He does hold a 50% track record after winning on his last visit to Ripon exactly 12 months ago but faces a stiff task here and is not for me.  2/5
 
Hitchens: A highly rated 2yo who has struggled a little over the last 18 months and as a result has slipped down to a nice mark. His only course run saw him finish 6/17 to Markab last year and as he runs today off a 2lb lower mark and is drawn 19 he must enter calculations.  3/5
 
Noverre To Go: Winner of 4 of his 16 starts to date he’s also finished a very creditable 7th in the Wokingham and 5th in the Stewards Cup this season. Those runs came on the back of a win at Newmarket and he should go well on his first run at Ripon  3/5
 
Advanced: An excellent 1/4 length 3rd in this race last year. He runs off the same rating today and is a very game and tough horse who is versatile in the way he needs to be ridden. With an excellent 3lb claimer on board who won on him at Ascot last September he is a very strong e/w possibility from a high draw   5/5
  
Lowdown: A 3yo who will need to improve 12lb to figure and I don’t think that’s likely 1/5
 
Tiddliwinks: A very interesting contender who has only had 15 career runs but has won 5 of them. His last 2 runs have been a big step up on his previous turf form. He was an excellent 4th at Goodwood and filled the same spot at York before that but he is still no wins or places from 6 runs on turf and for this reason he is passed over. 3/5
 
Tajneed: He’s 3 from 3 over course and distance including in this race in 2008 off a 2lb lower rating. He has been consistent this term and did get home in front in early June over this CD off a 4lb lower mark. Historically, stall 20 in this race is a good draw so a big run is very much expected.   4/5
 
Damika: A winner of 8 of his 50 career runs and 1 of his 4 starts over CD. He will need a career best performance to figure and on recent form that looks to be asking too much. Easily passed over. 2/5
 
Favourite Girl: In the form of her life winning 4 of her last 5 starts but she has gone up 20lb since the first of those wins and on bare form alone has a lot to do to win this. From stall 3 she’s not for me.  1/5
 
Everymanforhimself: Has struggled this season since winning on the AW back in February and it will take a massive reversal of form to take a hand here. He’s 0/4 over CD and easily left out.  1/5
 
Wildcat Wizard: Won his first 2 career runs but has not won since. He bounced back to form last time with a good 3rd to Joseph Henry at Goodwood after failing to beat a single horse in his 2 previous runs. A low draw may hinder his chances 2/5 

Novellen Lad: He’s got 8lb more to carry than when last successful and with no course form it take s a big leap of faith to back this one and I can easily look elsewhere.  1/5
 
Pavershooz: Has been struggling this season but his latest run showed a little bit more encouragement. But his last 3 wins have all been over 5F and his last 2 attempts over 6F finished in 2 last place finishes  (22/22 and 18/18). So no surprise to see he gets left out here.  0/5
 
Fullandby: Not been at this low a rating since Sept ‘06 and 3lb lower than when last successful in November last year. He did finish 5/25 in the Ayr Silver Cup last season off 92 and as he runs off 91 here it would be foolish to write off completely although he is 0/4 over CD.  3/5
 
Shifting Star: Not won since rattled off a hat-trick in the summer of 2008. Steadily coming back down the ratings and now 2lb lower than when last successful but most recent form not too encouraging.  2/5
 
Midnight Martini: A 3yo filly who is 0/2 over CD. Not for me despite a good looking draw.  1/5
 
Selection: ADVANCED 2pt ew 20/1
Danger: SIGNOR PELTRO 1pt ew 16/1
Tricast : TAJNEED
 
Good Luck,
Gavin & Gary

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