20:20 Ripon

Friday 7 May 2021

All17:2017:5018:2018:5019:2019:5020:20

Littlethorpe Handicap

Off time: 20:20 | Winning time: 1m 44.44s

(1)

First Greyed^p²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: T Eaves| T: M Dods| OR: 77

14/1

Cheekpieces on for 1st time, sixth of 8 in handicap at Redcar (8f, good, 14/1) 25 days ago. Further rain would aid his cause, but he looks vulnerable under top-weight.

Form: 41961-6

(2)

Hipsway²⁵¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Shane Gray| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 74

66/1

Thrice-raced maiden. Eighth of 9 in minor event (9/2) at Redcar (7f, heavy). Off 8 months ahead of this handicap debut and opening mark is hardly a gift.

Form: 528-

(6)

Macmerry Jim²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: A Mullen| T: I Jardine| OR: 74

25/1

Lightly-raced winner. 20/1, sixth of 7 in handicap at this C&D (good to firm) 22 days ago. Looks up against it.

Form: 2517-6

(5)

Torrkee²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: D Nolan| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 73

4/1

Thrice-raced maiden. Fifth of 12 in minor event at Kempton (7f, 10/1) 23 days ago. It would be no great surprise were he to raise his game now upped in trip for this handicap debut.

Form: 3-25

(4)

Yorkshire Lady²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Joanna Mason⁽⁵⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 68

11/4

Winner at Leicester in October. Very good second of 6 in handicap (18/1) at Beverley (7.4f, good to firm) 23 days ago. 1 lb rise fair and should make her presence felt.

Form: 9471-2

(7)

Celestial Queen⁸^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: D Tudhope| T: K R Burke| OR: 59| D

1/1

Promising sort. Career best when winning 10-runner handicap (3/1) at Redcar (8f, good) 8 days ago, plenty in hand. Obvious chance under a penalty.

Form: 74-71

(3)

Waitingonanalibi²⁰³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 64

18/1

Sixth of 9 in nursery at Newcastle (7.1f, 13/2). Off 6 months and improvement needed here.

Form: 684126-

Forecasts

Celestial Queen (1/1), Yorkshire Lady (11/4), Torrkee (4/1), First Greyed (14/1), Waitingonanalibi (18/1), Macmerry Jim (25/1), Hipsway (66/1)

CELESTIAL QUEEN made a mockery of her opening mark at Redcar last week and, with further improvement on the cards, she should have little trouble following up under a penalty. Yorkshire Lady proved that her Leicester nursery success in October was no fluke when runner-up on return at Beverley. She is second choice ahead of handicap-debutant Torrkee.