16:20 Ripon

Thursday 6 June 2019

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

VML Jan Norton Happy Birthday Handicap

Off time: 16:21 | Winning time: 1m 11.75s

(1)

Queen Of Burgundy⁹^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 9-13| J: Darragh Keenan⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs C A Dunnett| OR: 69| D

3/1

Joined this trainer from William Haggas for 12,000gns in December 2018; comfortable 40/1 winner of a 6f fillies' handicap at Leicester (good to firm) last week; 6lb penalty is more or less negated via Darragh Keenan's 5lb allowance.

Form: 68-71

(2)

Magical Spirit⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: A Mullen| T: K A Ryan| OR: 71

2/1

Beverley novice winner (5f, good to soft); is due a 4lb rise for his ½L second to Inspired Thought at Redcar (6f) last week; ought to go close if adopting similar forcing tactics; stablemate of Baldwin.

Form: 931-22

(8)

Murqaab^v⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: K Shoemark| T: J Balding| OR: 69| D

25/1

Decisive winner of a 6f Thirsk seller (good to soft) for David O'Meara on his penultimate start; finished down the field behind today's rival Magical Spirit on debut for John Balding at Redcar last week.

Form: 30-7418

(4)

Northern Society¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Shane Gray| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 68

12/1

Off the mark at the 11th time of asking at Musselburgh (5f, good to firm) in mid May; was beaten 4L (fourth) by the previous Newcastle winner Wise Words off this revised mark at Redcar (5f) since; softer ground?

Form: 7362-14

(9)

Jill Rose¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: R M Whitaker| OR: 64

10/1

Nine-race maiden; went closest when beaten ½L by Free Love at Catterick (5f, good) last September; may find a small race somewhere, but others hold far more compelling claims here.

Form: 6320-04

(5)

Gremoboy^p1³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: R Winston| T: T D Easterby| OR: 63

8/1

Southwell winner (7f) last November; hasn't achieved anything of any real significance in four starts on turf; cheekpieces are newly applied.

Form: 871-79

(7)

Hard Solution^b¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 63| BF

6/1

Eight-race maiden who continues to slide slowly down the handicap; given an aggressive ride on the AW at Wolverhampton (6f) 16 days ago, when reeled in close home (finished fifth) by the Tapeta specialist Klopp.

Form: 220-655

(10)

Saltie Girl²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: R P Downey| T: T D Barron| OR: 61

14/1

Beaten 7L when finishing fourth of ten to Victory Day (William Haggas) in a C&D maiden (good to soft) last month; the switch to handicapping is seemingly required; half-sister to the 6f winner Black Salt.

Form: 6-04

(6)

Alfred The Grey¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: P Hanagan| T: Miss Tracy Waggott| OR: 54

20/1

12-race maiden who has been racing mainly between 7f and 1m; shouldn't possess the required speed (or level of ability) to make a positive impression in this contest.

Form: 073057

Non-Runners

(3)

Baldwin³¹

Weight: 9-6| Age: 3

T: K A Ryan J: J Fanning

Forecasts

Magical Spirit (2/1), Queen Of Burgundy (3/1), Hard Solution (6/1), Baldwin (6/1), Gremoboy (8/1), Jill Rose (10/1), Northern Society (12/1), Saltie Girl (14/1), Alfred The Grey (20/1), Murqaab (25/1)

The improving fillies Northern Society and Queen Of Burgundy must prove themselves as being equally proficient with cut underfoot, although the chance of the latter in particular is an obvious one from a handicapping perspective with 5lb claimer Darragh Keenan off-setting over 80% of the penalty incurred (6lb) for winning at Leicester. Pace is likely to be plentiful with the speedsters Hard Solution and MAGICAL SPIRIT in the line up. The selection is proven under similar conditions, and due a 4lb rise for finishing a close second to an Archie Watson-trained winner at Redcar last week, really ought to be stamping his presence firmly in the mix.