16:35 Ripon

Thursday 15 April 2021

All14:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:40

Ripon 'Cock O' The North' Handicap

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 1m 38.89s

(3)

Quiet Assassin¹⁸⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: D C Costello| T: A Keatley| OR: 91

25/1

7f Beverley debut winner who kept good company after, good sixth of 9 in Oh So Sharp Stakes (20/1) at Newmarket (7f) on final run. Goes into handicaps now but others are better treated.

Form: 1776-

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(5)

Emperor Spirit¹³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 86

9/4

Progressive juvenile who signed off with comfortable success in 8.6f Wolverhampton novice. Looks to have got in lightly for his handicap bow and the one to beat for top yard.

Form: 321-

(4)

Impulsive One^t1¹⁷⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: K Stott| T: W J Haggas| OR: 81| D

7/2

Looked a colt on the up when landing 1m Bath nursery only to finish last in 1m2f Newmarket nursery in the mud on his final run. Sort to bounce back after a break/gelding op. Tongue tie goes on.

Form: 52218-

(7)

Top Of The Pops¹⁵⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: B A Curtis| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 80| D

9/4

1m Leicester debut winner who wasn't disgraced in stronger company when fifth of 6 in 1m2f minor event at Chelmsford City. Yard going well so he's not taken lightly pitched into handicaps now.

Form: 15-

(2)

Ventura Mutiny¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 79

16/1

Got off the mark in 7f Musselburgh maiden in June but (20/1) well held in 1m handicap there 9 months later. Bred to be useful and yard have good record in this contest so he shouldn't be written off.

Form: 631-6

(1)

Macmerry Jim¹⁷³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Jamie Gormley| T: I Jardine| OR: 77

20/1

Opened his account in 7f Southwell maiden but well held on nursery bow at Doncaster only run since. His best efforts remain on fibresand. Has been gelded.

Form: 2517-

(6)

Grantley²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Phil Dennis| T: E Bethell| OR: 72

5/1

Fair winning juvenile who returned with creditable third in 7f handicap at Newcastle when fitted with cheekpieces. This is more demanding and others appeal more, however.

Form: 43286-3

Forecasts

Emperor Spirit (9/4), Top Of The Pops (9/4), Impulsive One (7/2), Grantley (5/1), Ventura Mutiny (16/1), Macmerry Jim (20/1), Quiet Assassin (25/1)

EMPEROR SPIRIT starts life in handicaps on a very appealing mark so this progressive sort from the in-form Gosden team is hard to side against on his reappearance. Top Of The Pops is another handicap debutant from a leading yard who is much respected, with Impulsive One and Ventura Mutiny expected to bounce back too in an interesting 3-y-o handicap.