20:10 Ripon

Monday 8 July 2019

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

Ripon, Yorkshire's Garden Racecourse Handicap

Off time: 20:10 | Winning time: 1m 59.23s

(2)

Carry On Deryck¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Harry Russell⁽⁷⁾| T: Ollie Pears| OR: 92

25/1

Runs off a career-low mark but is very hard to recommend after a string of low-key efforts since returning to these shores. Best watched until offering more encouragement.

Form: 877-670

(6)

Rufus King³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 90

3/1

Posted more consistent efforts the last twice, and his third placed finish at Haydock (1m; good to firm) was the best race he has ran for some time. Competes off a career-low mark and is dangerous to rule out.

Form: 093943

(7)

King's Pavilion⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: C J McGovern⁽³⁾| T: J Ward| OR: 88| C

12/1

Showing signs of a return to form. Third at York (1m; good to firm) last time was another step in the right direction. Back down to the mark he scored off when successful at Haydock last season and is in with a major shout.

Form: 4-80843

(8)

Addis Ababa^v¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 88

4/1

Debut winner in June last year, but hasn't progressed as one would have hoped. Tends to run consistently well in defeat, but Pontefract (1m2f; good) run was a lesser effort recently and he can only be fancied as a place prospect.

Form: 320224

(3)

Mikmak^p⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 82| CD

8/1

C&D winner. Not looked very dangerous of late, but was a winner off 2lb higher around this stage of the season last year. Hard to place maximum faith in him, but he has a squeak as an each-way prospect.

Form: 8-84585

(5)

Sameem¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: P J McDonald| T: J Tate| OR: 90| D

7/4

Has his sights lowered after running in the Brittania Stakes at Royal Ascot (1m; good to soft) last time. Running well prior to that and he has enough experience on his side in handicaps to see him return to form.

Form: 1-17320

(4)

Benadalid¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: M Stainton| T: C W Fairhurst| OR: 80| C

9/1

Failed to back up encouraging placed effort at Ripon (1m4f; good) two starts back when 13th at Carlisle (1m3f; good to firm) last time. Has been a bit inconsistent lately and despite being 3lb below his last winning mark, he is hard to fancy.

Form: 24-4030

Non-Runners

(1)

Mandarin²⁴

Weight: 9-3| Age: 5

T: Ian Williams J: P Hanagan

Forecasts

Sameem (7/4), Rufus King (3/1), Mandarin (3/1), Addis Ababa (4/1), Mikmak (8/1), Benadalid (9/1), King's Pavilion (12/1), Carry On Deryck (25/1)

A small-field handicap in which Mandarin boasts solid credentials after stringing together a pair of respectable efforts in defeat the last twice. He is versatile ground-wise and should be able to notch his first win in this sphere soon enough, but he may have to play second-fiddle once again to SAMEEM. The selection found his assignment in the Brittania Stakes at Royal Ascot all too much, but held a fairly progressive profile before that and should be able to resume on his upward curve now he is returned to calmer waters. King's Pavilion is the fly in the ointment, as he continues to hint at a return to form after posting his best effort of 2019 when third at York.