Ripon 'Cock O' The North' Handicap

Off time: 17:10 | Winning time: 1m 48.23s

(4)

Book of Dreams¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-4| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 96| D

7/2

Forecast conditions look ideal for this dual heavy ground scorer who arrives chasing a hat-trick after wins at Chelmsford and Musselburgh. Up 10lb for his 6L win at the latter track so will need to improve. Looks a strong candidate.

Form: 2246-11

(1)

Crownthorpe²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 85

4/1

Scored over 7f at Sandown (good) in September when 12lb lower but was not far away at Doncaster (soft) next time after a 9lb hike. Not as good since, but 2lb drop here won't harm and has to enter calculations.

Form: 22120-3

(5)

Che Bella²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Connor Beasley| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 85| D

20/1

Won at Thirsk (1m, soft) on her handicap debut in September though combination of a 10lb rise for that plus heavy ground saw her well held at Pontefract next time. Entitled to need reappearance but needs some improvement to win in this line-up.

Form: 31422-5

(2)

Kripke⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: B A Curtis| T: T D Barron| OR: 80| D

5/2

Has just the one turf run to his name when beaten 4L on debut on good to soft at Doncaster in October. Has made a bit of improvement on AW in the winter and scored at Southwell (1m) last time. Pedigree suggests that forecast going is a concern.

Form: 3-231

(3)

Regular Income¹⁶²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: P Makin| T: A West| OR: 80| D

8/1

Went very close on heavy ground at Salisbury (1m) in October and scored on soft at Nottingham (1m½f) a month later. Up 6lb for that on his reappearance. May need this, though market check looks prudent.

Form: 35341-

(6)

Mametz Wood^p1¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: David Egan⁽³⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 75| BF

3/1

Placed in all four starts, including on soft ground. Ran well again when stepped up to 1m at Southwell last time. Cheekpieces may help eek out a bit extra and he is short-listed from 2lb higher.

Form: 233-2

Forecasts

Kripke (5/2), Mametz Wood (3/1), Book of Dreams (7/2), Crownthorpe (4/1), Regular Income (8/1), Che Bella (20/1)

Between them Mark Johnston (four wins) and Richard Fahey (three) have farmed the last 10 running of this. Both has claims again and the former's BOOK OF DREAMS arrives in such good form and as a proven performer on heavy ground that he may be able to defy a tough-looking 10lb rise. Crownthorpe represents Fahey and is very much respected, with Mametz Wood looking a threat from the foot of the racecard.