17:30 Ripon

Tuesday 29 August 2017

All14:1514:5015:2516:0016:3017:0017:30

Follow At The Races On Instagram Stayers Handicap

Off time: 17:31 | Winning time: 3m 31.2s

(6)

Fitzwilly⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: David Egan⁽⁵⁾| T: M R Channon| OR: 66| D

9/2

Hasn't won for nearly two years now and produced a rather laboured effort last time out over 2m at Lingfield. Still ran with credit but it could well be that a busy period is starting to catch up with him now although this is a drop in grade.

Form: 632262

(11)

La Fritillaire⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: A Mullen| T: J G Given| OR: 65| CD

7/1

Took this race last year but that was off a much lower mark (53) and she was in much better form then having won her previous start. Her winning form earlier in the year now looks a distant memory and this mark makes it look tough.

Form: 613246

(9)

Russian Royale⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: P Hanagan| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 57| D

22/1

Slipping down the weights this year but really showing no sign of running into form at all and even a break didn't seem to do her much good. Given her form this year she can only be watched until she shows some spark.

Form: 90-0605

(4)

Jan Smuts^p,t²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-4| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁷⁾| T: W Storey| OR: 55| CD

16/1

Found a race on the AW that was run to suit as the catalyst for a return to winning ways back in January off a mark of 57 over 2m. His form since then has a regressive feel to it with his last two runs being particularly poor.

Form: 543757

(12)

Theglasgowwarrior^p¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Louis Steward| T: M L W Bell| OR: 64

5/4

Still a maiden but has looked as though he might be able to win soon based on his last three runs (all over shorter). Now given a chance over a longer trip (has looked as though it would suit) and comes here in better form than most.

Form: 702232

(7)

Maple Stirrup¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Paula Muir⁽⁷⁾| T: P Holmes| OR: 50

25/1

Form overall is only modest and she's yet to win a race and has looked in poor form in two runs now since returning from a break. Went with little élan or fluency last time out and best watched here even off a career low mark of 50.

Form: 72-7874

(1)

Crakehall Lad^b⁶⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: A Crook| OR: 46

25/1

Showed a glimmer of form in May when finishing runner-up at Catterick over 2m and showed a similar level of form next time out. However he failed to build on that on his last start and the losing Flat run continues to mount.

Form: 467229

(2)

Rajapur^b¹¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: P Aspell| T: P A Kirby| OR: 45

40/1

Has shown very little in three runs this year with his handicap mark falling but showing no sign of showing the ability to win a race. Can only be watched on his current form and runs from 1lb out of the handicap here.

Form: 837-788

(8)

Strikemaster^b,t²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 8-9| J: Manuel Fernandes⁽⁷⁾| T: L R James| OR: 45| D

66/1

Finishing last in a Beverley selling handicap at 50/1 last time out just about sums this one up and he's shown next to nothing for a while now and can't seriously be considered here.

Form: 0/89-708

(5)

Thomas Crown^p²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-0| J: Cam Hardie| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 49

25/1

Looked as though he was a non-stayer when tried over this trip before and his two runs since that run have been poor despite attracting support on his penultimate start. Again below form last time out and can't be given too many more chances.

Form: 057877

(3)

Silver Gleam⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-0| J: J Quinn| T: C W Fairhurst| OR: 48

6/1

Still a maiden but there have been a couple of occasions this year when she has looked capable of winning a race. Didn't quite get the race run to suit last time (best of those held-up) and may able to figure here if she stays the 2m trip.

Form: 679464

Non-Runners

(10)

Firestorm²²

Weight: 9-3| Age: 6

T: R Ford J: D Allan

Forecasts

Theglasgowwarrior (5/4), Fitzwilly (9/2), Silver Gleam (6/1), La Fritillaire (7/1), Firestorm (12/1), Jan Smuts (16/1), Russian Royale (22/1), Maple Stirrup (25/1), Thomas Crown (25/1), Crakehall Lad (25/1), Rajapur (40/1), Strikemaster (66/1)

Not a race to be going overboard about with last year’s winner La Fritillaire returning to defend her crown bit being in nowhere the same sort of form. Fitzwilly probably sets the form standard and dropping in grade he’s hard to leave out of the equation despite looking rather laboured last time out. Firestorm still sits on a very attractive mark if he can regain his Newbury form while Theglasgowwarrior is better than most here if he stays. In the end though a chance is taken with SILVER GLEAM who could be up to winning something like this if she stays and repeats her last run over 1m4f with a more prominent ride possibly being of use.