16:00 Ripon

Saturday 28 April 2018

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0016:3517:05

M.C.H. Hutchinson Memorial Handicap

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 2m 43.18s

(4)

Great Hall³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: Charles Bishop| T: M Quinn| OR: 101| D

8/1

Effective from 1m2f-1m6f and acts with cut in the ground. Just 1lb higher here than when winning at Yarmouth in September. Had a recent pipe-opener and although well beaten, he usually needs a run or two to get into full swing, so is not ruled out.

Form: 116-234

(1)

Grandee¹⁸⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: P Makin| T: D O'Meara| OR: 100| D

4/1

Won the 2017 Listed King George V Cup over this trip (yld/soft) at Leopardstown for Jessie Harrington and bettered that effort over 1m6f later in the season. Changed hands for 22,000 gns in October and makes debut for trainer who won this last year.

Form: 219367-

(5)

Brandon Castle^h,t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: A Mullen| T: A Watson| OR: 99| D

11/8

Goes well on soft/heavy and scored on the latter on his reappearance at Musselburgh last month. Up 4lb for that (first three were 11L clear), so needs more, but couldn't rule that out, especially at a track where his front-running style should suit.

Form: 11946-1

(6)

Sofia's Rock^h²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 99| D

7/2

Appears to go on most ground and won twice over this trip last season. Consistency not always his strong suit but was placed in a Group 3 last season and that sort of form gives him a chance from this mark.

Form: 03020-9

(2)

Noble Gift³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: Callum Shepherd| T: W J Knight| OR: 96| BF| CD

15/2

Won this race in 2016 (good to soft) when 2lb higher on his reappearance and is at his best of good or slower ground. Sole win last season was also in the spring (on AW), so several reasons to make a case for him and he is short-listed.

Form: 5043-24

(7)

Super Kid⁸³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 96| BF

20/1

Former Godolphin-owned gelding whose sole win on turf was his fast ground 6f maiden success in 2014. Was in good form in handicaps over 1m2f-1m4f in 2015 but not seen since January 2016 and will surely need this run in the light of that.

Form: 232152/

Non-Runners

(3)

Euro Nightmare²⁹

Weight: 9-2| Age: 4

T: K Dalgleish J: G Lee

Forecasts

Brandon Castle (11/8), Sofia's Rock (7/2), Grandee (4/1), Noble Gift (15/2), Great Hall (8/1), Euro Nightmare (16/1), Super Kid (20/1)

A trappy look to this with several that can have cases made for them but it might pay to side with NOBLE GIFT to win the race for a second time, given that he has dropped to a handy mark and conditions look to be in his favour. Sofia's Rock is feared if able to produce his best as is Brandon Castle, who scored last time, while neither Great Hall nor Grandee can be ruled out.