19:50 Ripon

Tuesday 6 August 2019

All17:5018:2018:5019:2019:5020:20

Rewarding Ownership With The ROA Handicap

Off time: 19:51 | Winning time: 59.42s

(4)

James Watt¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: D Tudhope| T: M L W Bell| OR: 83| D

9/4

Came up well short in a Class 2 handicap at Newmarket (6f) but ultra-consistent immediately prior, including when beaten just under 2L by Aplomb at Nottingham (6f, soft) in June; two career wins at 5f-5½f.

Form: 372239

(2)

True Hero¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Rowan Scott⁽³⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 80| D

14/1

Appears to have lost his way fractionally since finishing a neck second to Yolo Again on a sticky Newcastle Tapeta surface (5f) in June; well beaten 11/4f on sole previous Ripon appearance.

Form: 372256

(1)

Exalted Angel³²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: B A Curtis| T: K R Burke| OR: 80| D

13/2

Broke his maiden over 5½f in France (Maisons-Laffitte) in June; weakened inside the final furlong (finished last of seven) in a competitive Class 3 Sandown handicap subsequently; soft ground a slight concern.

Form: 35-2317

(5)

Count D'Orsay⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 76| D

7/2

With Charles O'Brien when breaking the maiden at the 11th attempt at Naas (5f, good) in June; interesting to see what new trainer Tim Easterby can make of him on English handicap debut.

Form: 04-7481

(7)

Abate²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: A Mullen| T: Adrian Nicholls| OR: 73| C

11/4

Made all when justifying favouritism in a 6f course maiden (soft) in June; hasn't quite been able to repeat those tactics in handicap company since, although did run reasonably well at Chester (6f, good) latest; considered now dropped back in trip.

Form: 232174

(6)

Hawk In The Sky³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Connor Beasley| T: R M Whitaker| OR: 71| D

20/1

Took a clear step forward from his earlier efforts when winning a small field novice contest at Beverley (5f, good to firm) in July, accounting for the 2/11f Dream Of Honour; more required in a much stronger race on handicap debut.

Form: 851

(3)

Ginvincible²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-3| J: J P Sullivan| T: J G Given| OR: 65| CD

9/1

All out to beat Timetodock by a head from a 3lb lower mark over C&D (good to soft) on her penultimate start; couldn't replicate that form at Catterick latest and is likely to find at least a couple stronger today.

Form: 53-4215

Forecasts

James Watt (9/4), Abate (11/4), Count D'Orsay (7/2), Exalted Angel (13/2), Ginvincible (9/1), True Hero (14/1), Hawk In The Sky (20/1)

Tim Easterby's new recruit Count D'Orsay should be monitored in the market, and if attracting sustained support should probably be followed. However, in a race which lacks a standout contender a few each-way shekels are aimed at the course maiden winner ABATE. He will handle the underfoot conditions, won't be troubled by a drop back in trip and wasn't at all disgraced in finishing just over 2L fourth to the Roger Teal-trained Spirit of May at Chester (6f) 24 days ago.