Ripon Annual Badgeholders Handicap

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 1m 40.1s

(5)

Aquarium⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 97| D

11/2

Dual winner over 1m½f in July bounced back from a disappointing run latest when third over 1m1f at Goodwood. Upped 2lb here but drop to bare 1m might suit and looks sure to make another bold bid.

Form: 971103

(2)

Cold Stare¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: C J McGovern⁽⁵⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 95

14/1

Dual French winner including at Listed level but struggled since switch to current yard although highly tried. Handicapper coming to his aid now but still paying the price for juvenile form.

Form: 98-6080

(1)

Three Saints Bay¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 95| D

6/4

Made all last twice at Beverley over 7½f on good to firm and 1m½f on good to soft. Up another 6lb now but clearly on the upgrade so it may not be enough to stop him in current form.

Form: 106311

(4)

Restive Spirit⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: B A Curtis| T: W J Haggas| OR: 92| CD

2/1

Bolted up by 7L in a C&D maiden two starts back before finishing fifth at Goodwood where he could never quite recover after a slow start in a 7f handicap. Trainer among shrewdest in the game and this his only runner here, open to big improvement.

Form: 4215

(6)

Spray The Sea¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 79| BF

6/1

Cosy winner of a 1m1f Hamilton handicap two starts back pulled too hard next up over 1m2f at Newcastle and paid the price for it. Step back to 1m may help with that tendency and may still be on the upgrade.

Form: 25-5915

Non-Runners

(3)

Humble Gratitude²

Weight: 8-12| Age: 3

T: K R Burke J: C Lee

Forecasts

Three Saints Bay (6/4), Restive Spirit (2/1), Aquarium (11/2), Spray The Sea (6/1), Humble Gratitude (7/1), Cold Stare (14/1)

It usually pays to give William Haggas' northern raiders very close attention and the Yorkshireman has an excellent chance of taking home this prize with RESTIVE SPIRIT who bolted up in a C&D maiden. This £200,000 colt looks the sort who could be much better than his current handicap and Haggas will likely have considerably bigger prizes in mind in the coming months. Three Saints Bay is the biggest danger with David O'Meara's three-year-old in fine form having won easily twice at Beverley. Aquarium is a typically tough Mark Johnston handicapper and he looks sure to be involved also.