15:30 Ripon

Sunday 20 May 2018

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

Wilmot-Smith Memorial Handicap

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 1m 51.01s

(7)

Mutamaded⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 95| C| D

4/1

Good record of four wins from nine starts on turf, the last three of them at this venue. Successful over 1f further last time and has to be taken seriously again despite another 4lb rise.

Form: 19-4101

(3)

Trading Point¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 90| D

13/8

Made all to win both his starts for current trainer since joining the stable from John Quinn. Has gone up a total of 12lb for those successes, but may have more to offer and this track favours frontrunners.

Form: 21/80-11

(6)

Fayez¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Shelley Birkett⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 90| C| D

20/1

Won three times last year and probably needed the run when 10th of 15, not beaten that far, at Wetherby earlier this month. Has been dropped 3lb, but stable looks to have a stronger contender in Trading Point.

Form: 310-640

(2)

Society Red¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 86

3/1

Back to winning form when landng a 1m½f handicap at Beverley recently. A 3lb rise is fair and this slightly longer trip does not pose a problem.

Form: 102-621

(5)

Gurkha Friend¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: S De Sousa| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 83| CD

6/1

Made all when ridden by this jockey to win this contest last year. Has not been in the same form since, but is 7lb lower than 12 months ago and would be a threat to all if returning to anything approaching his best..

Form: 68007-7

(4)

Keswick^t¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: George Wood⁽³⁾| T: H Main| OR: 81

25/1

Won a Lingfield maiden in January, last year, when trained by John Gosden and was having his first run for this stable, following a long absence, when a fair fourth of seven at Wetherby. Tackling some streetwise sorts in his first handicap.

Form: 31-4

(1)

Royal Shaheen^b1²²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-3| J: A Mullen| T: A C Whillans| OR: 77

16/1

Pontefract winner on soft ground in September and is back down to that mark after struggling off higher ratings. May find this ground on the lively side.

Form: 1477-86

Forecasts

Trading Point (13/8), Society Red (3/1), Mutamaded (4/1), Gurkha Friend (6/1), Royal Shaheen (16/1), Fayez (20/1), Keswick (25/1)

Mutamaded loves this venue and is a potent threat despite top weight, but he may have to give best to TRADING POINT, who has won both his races with real authority since joining this stable and may still be a step ahead of the handicapper. The selection may face a battle for the lead with last year's winner Gurkha Friend, who would have serious prospects off this mark if returning to form. Society Red is also firmly in the mix after winning at Beverley last time.