19:10 Ripon

Monday 8 July 2019

All18:4019:1019:4020:1020:4021:10

Middleham Trainers Association Handicap

Off time: 19:11 | Winning time: 1m 38.46s

(8)

Twin Appeal^b³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Gemma Tutty⁽³⁾| T: K Tutty| OR: 72| BF

10/1

Looks very exposed but has ran well without winning this season. Sent off 6-1 joint-favourite when only managing to finish fourth at Beverley (1m; good) last month. Likely to remain competitive but others have more attractive profiles.

Form: 28-4404

(6)

Kannapolis³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: G Lee| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 70

7/2

Latest two runs have been quite solid. Better than the bare form suggests when fifth at Doncaster. Still 7lb above last winning mark, but foolish to dismiss and he should still enjoy plenty of success at this level over the coming months.

Form: 227-835

(4)

Watheer^b²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: David Egan| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 70

16/1

Form since landing a Chelmsford (7f; standard) novice in July 2017 has been woeful. Only managed to beat one rival in two starts so far this year and despite this race representing a drop in class, he is very hard to trust when in such dire form.

Form: 17/64-87

(11)

Tagur^p⁸²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 70| D

50/1

Has been running at Southwell of late and now returns to turf for the first time since victorious at Redcar (1m; soft) in November. Has a point to prove after posting a below-par effort last time though.

Form: 11-2449

(10)

How Bizarre⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: D Nolan| T: L Bailey| OR: 68| D

9/1

Is partial to running a lifeless race as he did two starts ago, but hard to fault his fourth at Musselburgh (7f; good to firm) last time. That was a higher grade contest than this one but he has to prove he can back that up.

Form: 1-03504

(13)

Flying Raconteur¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Faye McManoman⁽⁵⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 68

8/1

Still very unexposed after just the four starts and he finished third behind Glaceon at Redcar (1m; good) on return from a long layoff. Entitled to improve a bundle and he should be able to reverse that form with Glaceon. Boasts appealing claims.

Form: 522/3

(12)

Ascot Week^v⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 67| D

10/1

Put lifeless effort at Wetherby (1m2f; good to soft) well behind him when only beaten a neck when runner-up at Ayr (1m; good to firm) in May. 4lb higher mark to contend with now though, and he isn't the most consistent.

Form: 16-4402

(2)

Ventura Royal^h²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 63

9/2

Posted a sound reappearance effort when runner-up at Beverley (1m2f; good). That form has since been franked by the winner and she holds major claims off just a 1lb higher mark. Booking of in-form jockey a major plus too.

Form: 07536-2

(14)

Fume⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: P J McDonald| T: J D Bethell| OR: 69WS

14/1

0-11. Steps up to 1m after looking regressive over 6f recently. Only managed to beat one rival home in a 12-runner affair at Redcar (6f; good to firm) last time. Lots to prove and is a risky one to recommend.

Form: 25-3370

(3)

Glaceon¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Cam Hardie| T: Miss T Jackson| OR: 54| D

18/1

Finally gained her first career success when holding on to prevail by a neck at Redcar (1m; good). Likely to go well again off just 1lb higher but she must prove her consistency.

Form: 65-4771

(5)

Mac Ailey¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Rachel Richardson| T: T D Easterby| OR: 63

8/1

Five-race maiden. Lightly raced and both efforts in handicaps this season have been quite promising. This is more competitive than the race he finished third in at Leicester (1m; good) last time, but he should remain competitive off the same mark.

Form: 673-23

(7)

Adventureman¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: A Mullen| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 51| D

33/1

Contested a competitive handicap at Newcastle (1m; standard to slow) last month when unable to land a blow. Posted a more encouraging effort when fourth at Haydock (1m; heavy) before that and if able to reproduce that he would hold place claims.

Form: 230046

(1)

Silk Mill Blue^p⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: P Hanagan| T: R M Whitaker| OR: 50| BF| D

11/1

Not beaten very far when fifth at Thirsk (1m; good to firm) last week. Sent off 6-1 joint-favourite then and likely to be popular in the market once again off an unchanged mark. Runner-up at this track last season over 6f. Definite candidate

Form: 418-955

(9)

Magic Ship²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: C J McGovern⁽³⁾| T: J R Norton| OR: 45

80/1

Made very little impact in 11 career starts. Not beaten too far when fifth at Haydock (1m; heavy) last month but never really looked a live threat at any point during the race. Runs off a lowly mark here but others looks vastly more dangerous.

Form: 9/600-95

Forecasts

Kannapolis (7/2), Ventura Royal (9/2), Flying Raconteur (8/1), Mac Ailey (8/1), How Bizarre (9/1), Ascot Week (10/1), Twin Appeal (10/1), Silk Mill Blue (11/1), Fume (14/1), Watheer (16/1), Glaceon (18/1), Adventureman (33/1), Tagur (50/1), Magic Ship (80/1)

A typically competitive and well-contested Ripon handicap, in which the runners with unexposed profiles make most appeal. Mac Ailey has ran admirably in defeat on both starts since switched to handicaps and should be thereabouts. Flying Raconteur is a fascinating contender after just the four starts. He didn't enjoy the best of passages on seasonal/handicap debut and has plenty more to offer in this sphere. The claims of VENTURA ROYAL make her a confident selection though. The form of her second on seasonal debut was franked over the weekend. Given that was her first run for almost a year, she should strip much fitter now and notch a second career win returned to 1m.