19:40 Ripon

Wednesday 30 May 2018

All18:3519:0519:4020:1020:4021:10

Ripon Farm Services Handicap

Off time: 19:44 | Winning time: 1m 11.57s

(8)

Al Barg^b¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 86| D

3/1

Put a disappointing reappearance behind him with a resolute 16-1 success at Doncaster last time (7f, good to firm). Drop in trip should not be an issue and 5lb rise not frightening given that he is unexposed. Looks a leading player.

Form: 218-31

(5)

Camacho Chief¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Callum Rodriguez⁽³⁾| T: M Dods| OR: 85

10/1

Has some very solid handicap form at this level already on good ground or slower. Latest run at Hamilton on good to firm suggests that he still has a bit to prove when conditions are quicker.

Form: 1352-34

(3)

Harrogate¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: J D Bethell| OR: 82| D

3/1

Went off the boil after some promising efforts last year. Put that straight, however, when making all for a decisive win at Thirsk (good to firm) on his handicap debut last time. Up 11lb but needs taking very seriously.

Form: 230-561

(4)

Areen Faisal¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 82| D

11/1

Scored over this trip at Pontefract (good to soft) in July when 6lb lower. Has looked exposed since a subsequent rise in the ratings, but not written off here if he can eek out some more back up in trip.

Form: 0130-40

(2)

Citron Major¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Lewis Edmunds⁽³⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 78| D

17/2

Reappeared with a maiden success on his handicap debut at Newcastle (6f, AW) at the start of the month. 8lb rise for that, plus better company and over 7f saw him beaten 6L at York last time. Bit to prove after that but drop in trip may help.

Form: 33419

(1)

Militia²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 77

3/1

Very consistent in maiden/novices' events and just managed to raise things a notch when scoring in a 5f Thirsk maiden (good to firm) on his reappearance. Will need to improve on that now handicapping from this mark.

Form: 3433-1

(7)

Finsbury Park¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 76

28/1

Won a Sandown novices' event (7f, good) in July for Robyn Brisland and was beaten just a neck from 2lb higher in a Newmarket handicap in August. Well held on recent debut for this yard and a bit to prove now dropped in trip.

Form: 83375-0

(9)

Dawn Breaking³²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Cam Hardie| T: R M Whitaker| OR: 73| D

33/1

Dual Pontefract winner over this trip in the autumn, on testing ground. Reasonable reappearance here over 5f last month. Drops 1lb now and is of more interest back over this trip, though has it to prove on fast ground.

Form: 51618-5

(6)

Cuppacoco¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: F Norton| T: Mrs A Duffield| OR: 66| D

14/1

Dual Newcastle winner (6f/5f) in the autumn, the latter from a 12lb lower mark. Thrashed on his return in the Thirsk race won by Harrogate and plenty to prove on that evidence.

Form: 80511-8

Forecasts

Militia (3/1), Harrogate (3/1), Al Barg (3/1), Citron Major (17/2), Camacho Chief (10/1), Areen Faisal (11/1), Cuppacoco (14/1), Finsbury Park (28/1), Dawn Breaking (33/1)

The unexposed AL BARG makes a fair bit of appeal here and gets the vote after a 5lb rise for winning at Doncaster last time, when showing a good attitude. Harrogate is feared after his Thirsk success, while Militia looks a solid proposition and can again pick up some prize money.