15:20 Ripon

Thursday 6 June 2019

All14:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:5017:20

Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Handicap

Off time: 15:21 | Winning time: 2m 36.03s

(5)

Anythingtoday^p¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 86

7/2

All three wins came for Hugo Palmer; evidently handles cut underfoot and has figured reasonably prominently at this track (1m1f-1m2f) in two of his last three starts; up in trip but down in grade (into a Class 4); respected.

Form: P00-404

(3)

Desert Point¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Shane Gray| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 84| D

8/1

Former French/Spanish racer who joined current connections for €45,000 in November 2016 with hurdling a primary objective; a very patient approach has been required, but green shoots of optimism are now on the horizon over staying trips on the Flat.

Form: 2203/33

(6)

Benadalid²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: M Stainton| T: C W Fairhurst| OR: 83| CD

9/2

16/1 winner over C&D (good) last July and returns to this track for the first time since off an identical mark (83); narrowly beaten (third) on his only other previous Ripon start; 15th of 17 at York latest.

Form: 1124-40

(2)

Dommersen¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Ben Sanderson⁽⁵⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 81

11/1

Hasn't shown much on turf since his 3yo days with John Gosden, although admittedly has been campaigned mainly on the AW; the suspicion is that he's high enough in the weights.

Form: 212395

(7)

Aiya^h¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: R Winston| T: T D Easterby| OR: 80| D

7/2

2-3 on the AW for Andrew Balding; back from 11 months off the track with a couple of pleasing runs for his new trainer Tim Easterby; 2lb higher than when finishing a neck second to Archie Perkins at Redcar (1m2f, good to firm) ten days ago.

Form: 1633-42

(4)

Speed Company⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: P Hanagan| T: Ian Williams| OR: 80

11/2

Has raced unsuccessfully over hurdles during the winter (2,3,3,3); 33/1 when making a low-key return to the Flat at Doncaster (1m2f, good) in April; effective on good to soft/soft ground in his prime.

Form: 5552-80

(8)

Dr Richard Kimble^v1³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 78| CD

16/1

Made all and always in command when winning a four-runner affair over C&D (Class 5) last August; more miss than hit since, failing to beat a single rival the past twice; visor now applied.

Form: 3198-88

(1)

Doctor Cross²¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 75| CD

7/1

2lb higher than when beating Swansway by 2L over C&D (good) last June; missed the next three months before a couple of tame showings last back-end; has form on soft ground; couldn't be discounted despite having a 219 day absence to overcome.

Form: 366176-

Forecasts

Anythingtoday (7/2), Aiya (7/2), Benadalid (9/2), Speed Company (11/2), Doctor Cross (7/1), Desert Point (8/1), Dommersen (11/1), Dr Richard Kimble (16/1)

Given the undulations (dips and hollows) previous C&D form is often a valuable asset at Ripon, and of the trio with such attributes Doctor Cross makes most appeal despite having a 219 day absence to overcome. However, another with previous Ripon form (1m1f-1m2f) is the top-weight ANYTHINGTODAY who is yet to add to his three wins in 2016/17 for Hugo Palmer, but with conditions favourable and an easing in grade (into a Class 4) he could go close to gaining a first success for David O'Meara. Another worthy of a mention is the patiently handled Desert Point who appears to be slowly getting his racing career back on track for Keith Dalgleish.