14:55 Ripon

Sunday 20 May 2018

All13:5014:2014:5515:3016:0016:3017:00

VW Van Centre (West Yorkshire) Handicap

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 2m 3.17s

(8)

Starlight Mystery²²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 83| C

15/2

Busy time as a juvenile, winning two of her nine starts. Races off her lowest handicap mark so far, but has never run beyond 7f and peak fitness on seasonal debut has to be taken on trust.

Form: 208660-

(4)

Indomeneo¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: S De Sousa| T: R A Fahey| OR: 82| C

5/2

Rounded off a successful juvenile campaign with wins at this venue and Leicester. Two efforts this term - albeit one on heavy ground - have not been so good, and the suspicion is that she is in the handicapper's grip.

Form: 2611-06

(9)

Narcos^b³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 79

7/1

Stable companion of Indomeneo who won on debut at Doncaster last summer and ran fair races over 7f and 1m this spring. Tries this longer trip for the first time and, being by a sprinter, there is no guarantee it will suit.

Form: 16-24

(2)

Sheriff^b1⁹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Lewis Edmunds⁽³⁾| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 79

28/1

Won on handicap debut for Michael Bell in January, but was well beaten off higher marks in two subsequent races. Tries his luck for a new stable and the combination of first-time blinkers and a step up in trip needs to be beneficial.

Form: 065-143

(1)

We Are The World^b²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: D Tudhope| T: A Watson| OR: 78

5/1

Handicap winner in first-time blinkers on the Wolverhampton AW in March, but the headgear has not had the same positive effect in two races since.

Form: 316-158

(3)

Benadalid²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: P Mulrennan| T: C W Fairhurst| OR: 75

6/1

Narrow winner of a Newcastle novice event in June, last year, and ran well to be third on reappearance over 1m on soft ground at Haydock. Up 1lb and has faster conditions to cope with.

Form: 41366-3

(6)

Jo's Girl²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: A Mullen| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 73

12/1

Failed to win as a juvenile, but hit the target on first run as a three-year-old over 1m at Pontefract last month. Up 5lb, but shaped as though this longer trip would suit despite breeding suggesting otherwise.

Form: 39276-1

(5)

Glorious Player¹⁰⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 73

9/2

Promise in three novice/maiden events on the AW. Makes his handicap debut switched to turf and shapes as though this longer distance will suit.

Form: 5-43

Non-Runners

(7)

Emerald Rocket⁹

Weight: 8-11| Age: 3

T: K R Burke J: Connor Beasley

Forecasts

Indomeneo (5/2), Glorious Player (9/2), We Are The World (5/1), Benadalid (6/1), Narcos (7/1), Starlight Mystery (15/2), Jo's Girl (12/1), Emerald Rocket (16/1), Sheriff (28/1)

Several of these look high enough in the weights, including Starlight Mystery, Indomeneo and Narcos, who represent leading Northern stables. With that in mind, it may pay to row in with GLORIOUS PLAYER, who is having his first run in a handicap after three fair efforts over shorter on the AW. Jo's Girl looks a live danger after her win at Pontfract, while Benadalid ran well at Haydock last time and has an each-way chance if handling this faster ground.