15:30 Ripon

Thursday 8 June 2017

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:00

Weatherbys General Stud Book Online Handicap

Off time: 15:34 | Winning time: 1m 41.44s

(6)

Candelisa^p¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: G Lee| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 94

16/1

Sole win came in an Ayr maiden (6f, good) two years ago but has run well a number of times in handicap company without ever managing to add to that. Handles cut in the ground and has already run well over this trip from today's mark this season, so should not be far away.

Form: 5337-30

(7)

Gurkha Friend¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: T Eaves| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 93| CD

6/1

Has showed his liking for this track with wins on his last two starts, first over C&D (good) and last time over 1m1f (good) from 3lb lower than today. This is not quite as deep a race as that one, so a 3lb rise does not look insurmountable.

Form: 280-311

(9)

Swift Emperor¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: P Makin| T: T D Barron| OR: 92| D

12/1

Races over his optimum trip again, having been tried over 1m2f on his last two starts, including when making the frame here from this mark. Handles good to soft ground well and ought to have a major say.

Form: 6-41438

(3)

Stamp Hill²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 92

9/1

All three wins have come on good to soft, soft and heavy ground, so should relish these conditions and is just 2lb higher than when scoring over 7f at Doncaster in September. Step up in trip is well worth a try and being unexposed over the trip he has to enter calculations.

Form: 2910-80

(4)

Two For Two²²

Age: 9| Weight: 9-3| J: Ben Sanderson⁽⁷⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 90| CD

9/1

Won a couple of times with cut in the ground in France and also scored over C&D (good) four years ago. Best winning mark has been 97, but has not shown that form for a couple of years and now back up a few pounds again after making the frame both here and at Thirsk this season, he looks up against it.

Form: 00-6220

(2)

Just Hiss⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: P Mulrennan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 88| D

14/1

Put together back-to-back wins at Beverley and Musselburgh in August/September last year over slightly further than this, though also went very close over 1m at York on his final start from 1lb lower. Handles cut and looks a very interesting proposition after a pipe-opener.

Form: 42113-7

(10)

Bahama Moon⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: A Mullen| T: T D Barron| OR: 87| D

20/1

Relishes plenty of cut in the ground, having won over this trip on heavy and over 1m2f on soft, the latter at Pontefract in October. However, recent run back at that venue suggests that the handicapper may just have his measure at present.

Form: 5310-64

(8)

Roller⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Nathan Evans⁽³⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 86| BF| D

9/2

Both career wins have been over this trip, the one on turf coming at Redcar (good) in April from 8lb lower. Put in another good effort from 2lb to be beaten just 1L at Nottingham (good to firm) over 1m½f last time and should again be on the premises if as effective on softer ground.

Form: 81-2613

(5)

Qeyaadah²²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: B A Curtis| T: M Appleby| OR: 85

16/1

Yet to add to his Newbury debut win of two years ago, having been asked some searching questions by the handicapper. 3lb lower here than when a 2½L sixth (6f, good to firm) at Doncaster last month, but didn't convince over this far last time out, so has it to prove over this far, especially on softer ground.

Form: 0/36-665

(11)

Boots And Spurs^v¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 8-5| J: F Norton| T: S Dixon| OR: 78| D

14/1

The most exposed runner in the field here, having won 7-65 starts, including over this trip on heavy ground some years ago. Has been in decent form in a lower grade just lately, but just looks to have a little too much to do at this level.

Form: 650524

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to all bets - deduction 25p in the pound

Non-Runners

(1)

Kharbetation³¹³

Weight: 9-6| Age: 4

T: D O'Meara J: D Tudhope

Forecasts

Roller (9/2), Gurkha Friend (6/1), Kharbetation (6/1), Stamp Hill (9/1), Two For Two (9/1), Swift Emperor (12/1), Boots And Spurs (14/1), Just Hiss (14/1), Candelisa (16/1), Qeyaadah (16/1), Bahama Moon (20/1)

Roller is entitled to plenty of respect, but does have it to prove on softer ground, while Stamp Hill is unexposed over this trip and could have a say. Swift Emperor is another contender, while Kharbetation was impressive on his only run so far and may yet make a mockery of his initial handicap mark. Others to consider are Candelisa and Just Hiss, who is feared in taking him on with GURKHA FRIEND. Karen McLintock's gelding seeks a hat-trick at the track this season and a 3lb rise does not look beyond him. He has won on good to soft, though punters might have cause for concern if the ground gets really soft.