16:10 Ripon

Sunday 21 May 2017

All14:0014:3515:1015:4016:1016:4017:10

Wilmot-Smith Memorial EBF 'Breeders Series' Fillies' Handicap

Off time: 16:12 | Winning time: 1m 11.69s

(6)

Blithe Spirit¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Phil Dennis⁽⁵⁾| T: E J Alston| OR: 87| C| D

25/1

Chester specialist who has also won here over 5f. Down the field on only previous attempt at this distance and hard to fancy whilst yard are out of form.

Form: 0600-08

(7)

Southern Belle¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: J Fanning| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 85| D

13/2

Beat a subsequent winner at Nottingham last year and has raced over shorter distances in three of her races since. Now just 2lb above that winning mark and of interest back up to her optimum trip.

Form: 3149-44

(5)

Tumblewind³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: F Norton| T: R M Whitaker| OR: 85

10/1

Sole success in the past three years was at Thirsk 13 months ago (5f, good) from 3lb lower. Ran a great race from a poor draw at York in midweek on ground much softer than ideal following an 11 month break. Yet to win from a mark higher than 84.

Form: 4/1067-6

(9)

Love Island^h²³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: P Mulrennan| T: R M Whitaker| OR: 82| CD

11/1

Triple C&D winner (including this race in 2014) who took advantage of an attractive mark to score here in August. Can go well fresh and not one to dismiss lightly.

Form: 040136-

(11)

Sandra's Secret¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Nathan Evans⁽³⁾| T: J L Eyre| OR: 81| D

9/1

Stepped back up to this trip with success at Lingfield two weeks ago when making all and eased down to win by over 3L. Carries 6lb more for that and this step up in grade should prove a stiffer test.

Form: 190-071

(8)

Perfect Madge³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 87| D

10/1

Shown very little on her last couple of starts in admittedly tough company. Looks like she may need some relief from the handicapper and trainer has been a little quiet in recent weeks.

Form: 00166-5

(3)

Rose Marmara^t⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Adam J McNamara⁽³⁾| T: B Rothwell| OR: 77| D

20/1

Winner of a couple of races for Richard Fahey and has had a tough time at the hands of the handicapper since. Ran encouragingly on her seasonal bow off this mark but failed to reproduce that effort in cheekpieces last Monday. Those aids are removed and cannot be ruled out if reproducing that Thirsk run.

Form: 2340-36

(10)

Groupie²²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: J P Sullivan| T: T P Tate| OR: 85| D

20/1

Won two races for the Hannon team as a juvenile including a Salisbury auction event in June which makes her fairly treated for this. Ran well at Chester behind a subsequent winner of a Listed race. Passed to her new trainer for 35,000 gns in October. Won first time out last season and well drawn here.

Form: 121268-

(4)

Honeysuckle Lil^p⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Rachel Richardson⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 75| CD

8/1

C&D winner who has dropped to a mark which saw her score at Hamilton last autumn. Normally takes a couple of runs before peaking and one to note from a yard that have successfully targeted this race twice since 2009.

Form: 4109-44

(1)

The Feathered Nest²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 81| D

9/4

Was always travelling strongly when beating Ascot Day (winner twice since) at Chelmsford. Has missed the break on both starts since and has a tough draw to overcome.

Form: 316-4

(2)

Savannah Slew^h³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: A Mullen| T: J G Given| OR: 78| D

10/1

Finished the 2016 campaign in fine fettle with victories at Thirsk (5F, July) and Yarmouth (6F, October), before a staying on fourth of 17 at Doncaster in November. Seemed suited by some give underfoot so may be best to forgive a lacklustre reappearance on fast ground a month ago.

Form: 31714-0

Forecasts

The Feathered Nest (9/4), Southern Belle (13/2), Honeysuckle Lil (8/1), Sandra's Secret (9/1), Tumblewind (10/1), Perfect Madge (10/1), Savannah Slew (10/1), Love Island (11/1), Rose Marmara (20/1), Groupie (20/1), Blithe Spirit (25/1)

Sandra's Secret has an ideal draw under the stands rail as she bids to follow up a recent success that proved she stayed this trip at Lingfield last time. This stiffer track and stronger opposition set her a different task but she is clearly progressing and a good claimer helps to offset the effects of a 6lb rise in the weights. Southern Belle is back down in the weights and running over her best trip whilst the Whittaker pair of Tumblewind and Love Island can both have cases made for them. The former ran well at York in midweek after a lengthy absence whilst Love Island is a course specialist who goes well fresh. HONEYSUCKLE LIL also runs this track well and has dropped to her last winning mark. Her trainer likes to have a decent crack at this race and has enjoyed success twice in the last eight years. This mare needs a couple of races to come to hand and this could be an ideal opportunity to catch her.