15:35 Ripon

Saturday 29 September 2018

All13:5514:3015:0515:3516:1016:4517:20

Ripon Cathedral City Of The Dales Handicap

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 1m 10.92s

(7)

Staxton^p⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 100| D

3/1

Belatedly got his head back in front in a four runner affair at Newmarket in July. Seemingly well suited to a bit of cut in the ground and probably did too much too soon in the Ayr Gold Cup last time out. Yard won this in these colours last year.

Form: 447130

(10)

Pipers Note¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 97| CD

14/1

Eight of his wins have come here including two already this season. Has won off higher marks and certainly worth consideration given his course record despite finish well beaten on his last couple of runs.

Form: 761108

(11)

Victory Angel⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: J Mitchell| T: R Varian| OR: 96| D

5/1

Has run well in defeat in three of his four starts this season. Return to 6f will suit and he's back on a more realistic handicap mark now. May have preferred quicker ground but should go well.

Form: 18-4033

(6)

Merlin³⁵⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Hayley Turner| T: M L W Bell| OR: 94| D

9/1

Progressive in early 2017 but he gave the impression the handicapper had caught up with him towards the end of that campaign. Makes a belated reappearance here and others make more appeal.

Form: 121380-

(1)

Muscika¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 91| D

11/2

Narrowly held on at Thirsk in August and performed with credit in defeat at Doncaster last time when fifth of 21 in a competitive affair. May not have seen the best of him yet and he's capable off this sort of handicap mark.

Form: 708015

(9)

Ower Fly²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: A Mullen| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 90| D

16/1

Put some fair performances together earlier in the campaign and latest win came at Pontefract. Back on his last winning handicap mark but has been out of form in his more recent efforts and others preferred at present.

Form: 414556

(2)

Documenting²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: William Cox⁽⁵⁾| T: K Frost| OR: 90

4/1

Steadily improving throughout his first three starts for this yard, culminating with a wide margin win at Wolverhampton. Disappointed a little when upped in trip at Chester subsequently but probably worth forgiving that given his wide draw.

Form: 3/4216

(8)

Royal Brave⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: R Ffrench| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 88| D

25/1

In good form in the main part throughout this campaign but he's proved vulnerable over this trip with nine of his 10 wins coming over the minimum distance. Well beaten at Leicester last time and has never won from a mark this high.

Form: 343215

(3)

Fendale³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: G Lee| T: B Smart| OR: 86

16/1

Gained a first win since 2014 at York earlier in the campaign but has failed to back that up in two starts since. Has performed well over this trip without ever getting a win on the board but generally struggles off this sort of mark.

Form: 589130

(4)

Requinto Dawn^p¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: D Fentiman| T: R A Fahey| OR: 85

40/1

Won for the first time since his debut at Catterick earlier in the campaign but he's been out of form in his last couple of starts. Only 1lb above his only winning handicap mark but others make more appeal.

Form: 162278

(5)

Mr Wagyu^v⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Josephine Gordon| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 82| CD

11/1

Has won four times already this campaign and has two C&D wins to his name. Ran well in defeat at Newmarket last time and interesting runner back at this course on a slightly quicker surface.

Form: 313072

Forecasts

Staxton (3/1), Documenting (4/1), Victory Angel (5/1), Muscika (11/2), Merlin (9/1), Mr Wagyu (11/1), Pipers Note (14/1), Fendale (16/1), Ower Fly (16/1), Royal Brave (25/1), Requinto Dawn (40/1)

Tim Easterby won this last year with Flying Pursuit and in the same colours this time around, STAXTON is a fascinating contender. The colt looks progressive and probably did a bit too much too soon at Ayr last time out but attern company could be on the cards for this three-year-old next year; he's capable of taking this on his way to bigger things. Muscika is capable from this sort of mark but Pipers Note is preferred for the places given his excellent course record.