We've got quotes from connections and a Man On The Spot verdict ahead of the feature action at Ripon.
3.15 Ripon - William Hill Great St Wilfrid Handicap
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Views from connections
Ruth Carr - Pipers Note
"He absolutely loves the place. He's won his last two there and I'm really looking forward to it. As he's got older, he's able to handle softer ground better than when he was younger, so fast ground isn't as important as it once was. It was a good performance last time out and I honestly don't know what it is about the place he loves so much. Some horses handle the undulations better than others and he is obviously one of those."
Tim Easterby - Flying Pursuit and Golden Apollo
"They are both in good form. Both want cut in the ground. They both should run well. We can't split them at home, so we'll see."
Richard Fahey - Kimberella, Growl, Brian The Snail, Marie Of Lyon
"Kimberella loves the track, we're taking 7lb off him so we're hoping it will help him. He holds the track record there and we're very happy with him. Growl is knocking on the door. With slower ground and a bit of luck, he could win one of these. Marie Of Lyon was a little bit unlucky at Goodwood. Things didn't go right for her, but she's in good form. Brian The Snail has plenty of ability, but we see more of that than people do at the races.£
Paul d'Arcy - Spring Loaded
"He's come out of Goodwood very well. He got a little injury during the race, but he's over that. Like all sprinters, he needs a lot of luck in running. You need to be where the pace is and where he's drawn, hopefully he'll get sucked into the race and can win for us. He was a very well-handicapped horse when he won the Portland last year. Circumstances as to how the season had gone for him meant he was well-handicapped that day."
Ed Walker - Aeolus
"He's in great form. We're looking forward to getting him back on the grass. The ground should be ideal, not sure about the track, but he's on a good mark and one he's capable of winning off. He should go well."
Man On The Spot Tip
PIPERS NOTE arrives in fine fettle having landed a course and distance double. Ruth Carr’s course specialist finished runner-up off a higher mark in last year’s renewal with Shanghai Glory in third and Flying Pursuit, Al Qahwa and Growl all further behind. The latter has slipped down the weights since with Paul Hanagan’s presence suggesting he’s preferred of Richard Fahey’s four runners ahead of Kimberella, who hasn’t run in a handicap for some time but won a Listed sprint at Chester recently. It was soft ground when Flying Pursuit beat Golden Apollo at York last month and Spring Loaded remains 7lb higher than when scoring at Ascot earlier but Teruntum Star and Dark Power could go well off their current marks.
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