Ripon Races Supports Racing Welfare Handicap

Off time: 20:41 | Winning time: 3m 32.89s

(1)

Northwest Frontier^b⁸^{(ex 6)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 73| D

4/6

Made a big impression when successfully stepping up to this trip at Nottingham last time (good to firm), winning by an easy 5L. Carries a penalty as a result, but if he is in the same mood tonight he will take some pegging back.

Form: 407-631

(5)

Stormin Tom¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Rachel Richardson⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 74| CD

5/1

Goes well here and scored over C&D in 2016 when 4lb lower. Obliged again here over 1m6f last year from that same mark and went close back over C&D last time. More needed from this mark, but should be thereabouts.

Form: 37634-2

(6)

Wishing Well¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: P J McDonald| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 69| CD

11/1

Didn't see much action in the 2017 turf season, but sprang a 16-1 surprise in this race on the last of her three starts, from the same mark. Well held on both starts this term, but could not rule out a repeat success for all of that.

Form: 617-457

(2)

Navajo Star^v⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: A Mullen| T: R Brisland| OR: 68| D

14/1

Thorough stayer whose four wins have all been on the All Weather, and who is 0-5 on turf, where his only placed run was on good to soft. Bit to prove back on this surface.

Form: 24162P

(3)

Fitzwilly¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 8-12| J: S De Sousa| T: M R Channon| OR: 63| CD

5/1

Another C&D winner, having done so on good ground last August, when 3lb higher. Inconsistent, but if the champion can get him in the right mood then he couldn't be ruled out from this mark.

Form: 346353

(4)

Tiger Twenty Two⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 8-5| J: Cam Hardie| T: B Rothwell| OR: 53

50/1

1-32, that sole success being five years ago. Out of form in three recent starts over hurdles and, although he stays well enough, he look up against it from 3lb 'wrong'.

Form: 078686/

Forecasts

Northwest Frontier (4/6), Stormin Tom (5/1), Fitzwilly (5/1), Wishing Well (11/1), Navajo Star (14/1), Tiger Twenty Two (50/1)

Stormin Tom loves it here and has to be taken seriously, but another nudge up in the weights for going close last time leaves him vulnerable to NORTHWEST FRONTIER, who is unexposed over the trip and can defy his penalty. Last year's winner Wishing Well is respected, along with Fitzwilly.