15:10 Ripon

Saturday 30 September 2017

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

Noel Hetherton Memorial Handicap

Off time: 15:11 | Winning time: 1m 3.62s

(1)

Royal Brave³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: D Fentiman| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 87| D

16/1

Rattled off a hat-trick earlier in the campaign and back in the winners' enclosure in July at Musselburgh. Went close last time having nearly blown his chance from the gate but none of his eight career wins have had soft in the going description.

Form: 431442

(9)

Move In Time^v¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 9-8| J: Josh Doyle⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 86| D

7/1

Not won for well over two years now and losing run currently standing at 15. Unplaced on all seven starts this campaign and while this looks easier than many of his assignements, the 2014 Prix de l'Abbaye winner is hard to fancy in current mood.

Form: 005890

(8)

Midnight Malibu²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Rachel Richardson⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 85| D

12/1

Very consistent sort but all his wins have come on quicker ground than this and he was bordering on tailed off at Haydock in heavy ground last time. Hard to fancy on that basis.

Form: 202310

(10)

Show Palace¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: J Fanning| T: J Candlish| OR: 84| D

5/2

In excellent form this campaign and has won four of his last six starts. Seems to love plenty of dig in the ground and 6lb rise may not be enough to stop him winning again having finished well on top on the line at Chester last time.

Form: 131171

(6)

Venturous¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: M Harley| T: T D Barron| OR: 82

4/1

Starting to develop a habit of starting slowly, as seen when compromising his chance at Doncaster last time out when sixth of 15. Not won since juvenile days but and that winning form came on good ground; may struggle to give away a lead here.

Form: 7-07066

(5)

Henley⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Adam J McNamara⁽³⁾| T: Miss Tracy Waggott| OR: 82| D

20/1

Has won three times already this year but has seemingly lost his form of late and very disappointing effort at Hamilton last time out. Needs to bounce back and may need some relief from the handicapper.

Form: 151106

(4)

Lathom⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: William Carson| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 80| D

7/1

Won twice as a juvenile, including the Weatherby's Super Sprint at Newbury but hasn't won since and failed to get off the mark in 15 starts for David O'Meara. Hard to fancy on debut for new yard.

Form: 673447

(2)

Yorkshiredebut²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: L Morris| T: P T Midgley| OR: 76| D

16/1

Three wins from 18 starts but seemingly best suited to quicker ground than this, with all those wins coming on good-to-firm ground. Not beaten far in soft ground last time out but may struggle to dominate this field from the front.

Form: 616043

(3)

Ballesteros¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 8-10| J: P Mathers| T: R A Fahey| OR: 74| D

11/1

Inconsistent sort whose losing run now stands at 17 and has plenty on to turn around the form with Show Palace from their run at Chester last time. Trainer and jockey nought from 11 when combining around here.

Form: 690324

(7)

Foxtrot Knight¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 71| CD

8/1

C&D winner (dead-heated) earlier in the season and finds himself 6lb below that winning mark here, having run some good races in defeat recently. Each-way claims once again.

Form: 264444

Forecasts

Show Palace (5/2), Venturous (4/1), Lathom (7/1), Move In Time (7/1), Foxtrot Knight (8/1), Ballesteros (11/1), Midnight Malibu (12/1), Royal Brave (16/1), Yorkshiredebut (16/1), Henley (20/1)

The handicapper is seemingly struggling to keep up with SHOW PALACE and a 6lb rise for his latest win may not be enough to stop him again. Foxtrot Knight has a course and distance win to his name and is well below his last winning mark while Yorkshiredebut showed she can be effective in soft ground last time, for all she would prefer faster conditions here.