17:20 Ripon

Saturday 28 September 2019

All13:5514:3015:0515:3516:1016:4517:20

Thank You To Our Groundstaff Novice Stakes

Off time: 17:23 | Winning time: 2m 39.33s

(6)

Lough Salt¹⁷⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: Connor Beasley| T: R C Guest

28/1

Unlikely sort in this sphere being far better known over obstacles (not seen to good effect when last seen over fences in April). One previous Flat run resulted in a remote third in an ordinary C&D maiden; work to do to get involved.

Form: 3/

(5)

Rory And Me^t⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: P Mulrennan| T: Micky Hammond

10/1

Good bumper sort (2-3 in that sphere) who faced a stiff task when switched to the Flat recently at Pontefract (1m4f, good/firm). Tongue-tie (worn for his two bumper wins) is now applied; would need to improve considerably on his one Flat effort.

Form: 3

(1)

Secret Escape⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Ella McCain⁽⁷⁾| T: D McCain Jnr

7/1

Dual bumper/hurdles winner who makes her Flat debut having run poorly in her last two hurdles starts. Given her most recent form she has something to prove now; usual blinkers are now discarded.

Form:

(3)

Kall To Alms

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Cam Hardie| T: Stef Keniry

50/1

Dick Turpin gelding who makes a belated debut; dam 1m4f winner. Given a fairly stiff task for a newcomer and unless there is significant support best watched for now.

Form:

(4)

Isabella Brant³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 76

8/13

0-6 record means that there are some doubts abut her chance although her two runner-up slots at Salisbury and Kempton set the benchmark. Dropped 4f in trip but has shown she can cope with this trip at this ordinary novice level.

Form: 5-02023

(2)

Lady Scatterley³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 67

3/1

Finished runner-up in three consecutive 1m2f July handicaps but remains without a win (0-9). Failed to impress last time in a Beverley handicap (less than 100%); looks the main threat to Isabella Brant if she can recover her form.

Form: 022255

(7)

Mystic Dragon

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: A Elliott| T: Mrs I G-Leveque

25/1

Newcomer; Intello filly, dam winner at up 11.6f, half-sister to useful winner Dr No (6f, 2yo winner). Given a fairly tough task on debut, would need to be above average to make an impact, best watched.

Form:

Forecasts

Isabella Brant (8/13), Lady Scatterley (3/1), Secret Escape (7/1), Rory And Me (10/1), Mystic Dragon (25/1), Lough Salt (28/1), Kall To Alms (50/1)

Not a strong event to end the card and with three-year-olds having won this in five of the last seven seasons that looks the obvious place to look for the suggestion. ISABELLA BRANT despite her overall record looks the one to beat and is unlikely to be unsuited by any conditions that are thrown at her. Lady Scatterley needs to bounce back from a below-par run last time but she also represents the right age group and provides the main danger. Bumper winner Rory And Me along with bumper/hurdles winner Secret Escape look to be two candidates for the minor berth.