15:55 Ripon

Monday 28 August 2017

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0517:35

Ripon Rowels Handicap

Off time: 15:55 | Winning time: 1m 37.16s

(6)

Laidback Romeo⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: M Harley| T: C G Cox| OR: 98| CD

5/1

Running well since being gelded including when winning on seasonal debut at Sandown (1m, good-to-firm) in May. Finished a good second over the same C&D the following month and races off a 1lb higher mark today.

Form: 7211-12

(2)

Gurkha Friend⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: S De Sousa| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 94| CD

7/2

Completed a double here when winning over 1m1f on good ground in May and a decent effort when third over this C&D subsequently. Disappointing at York last time and returns from over two months off the track today.

Form: 0-31138

(8)

Home Cummins^p³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 92| D

9/1

Best effort of late came when finishing runner-up over 1m at York (good-to-soft) last time out. Has to defy a 2lb rise in the weights here but is an interesting runner in this contest.

Form: 036742

(7)

One Word More^h⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Rachel Richardson⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 92| D

8/1

Some decent efforts so far this year including when a close fifth in a valuable handicap over this trip at Goodwood (soft) on his penultimate outing. One to note despite a poor effort at York last week.

Form: 6-74050

(10)

Florenza¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: T Eaves| T: C W Fairhurst| OR: 90| D

20/1

Dead-heated for first over this trip at Thirsk (good) earlier this month and ran well when finishing third at Newmarket (good-to-soft) off this 6lb higher mark subsequently.

Form: 216313

(5)

Kharbetation²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 90| D

9/1

Made a winning debut over 1m at Thirsk (good) in July last year but failed to build on a promising seasonal debut last time out. Probably best watched at present. Declared 16:40 Yarmouth Sunday.

Form: 1-60

(9)

Two For Two^p⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-3| J: P J McDonald| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 89| CD

20/1

Successful over this trip at Ayr (good) in July and placed twice in four starts since. Races off a mark 1lb higher than for that success and worth a check in the market here.

Form: 919438

(3)

Father Bertie^p,t⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 88| D

14/1

Disappointing in three starts so far this year and handicap mark is falling as a result. Races off a mark 1lb higher than when winning over 1m at Redcar (good-to-firm) last October.

Form: 330-096

(4)

Fort Bastion⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: B A Curtis| T: B Ellison| OR: 86| D

33/1

Ran well when beaten a neck ove r7f at Newcastle in a valuable contest in January and entitled to have improved for his return to action when last of ten over the same distance at Doncaster (good) recently.

Form: 005-420

(1)

Brilliant Vanguard^p⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 84| CD

11/4

Victorious over C&D on good ground recently. Winning for the second time here on that occasion and an interesting runner following a 6lb rise in the weights.

Form: 458241

Forecasts

Brilliant Vanguard (11/4), Gurkha Friend (7/2), Laidback Romeo (5/1), One Word More (8/1), Home Cummins (9/1), Kharbetation (9/1), Father Bertie (14/1), Two For Two (20/1), Florenza (20/1), Fort Bastion (33/1)

BRILLIANT VANGUARD receives weight from all of his rivals here and can improve on his 2/3 record at this venue following a 6lb rise for his latest victory here. The selection is often held up and with a couple of possible pace angles in this race he may well have the race run to suit here. Another horse who is often held up is Fort Bastion and he can claim second on his second run back from a break while top weight Laidback Romeo has returned to the track in good form this year and can finish third.