15:35 Ripon

Sunday 16 May 2021

All13:3314:0514:3515:0515:3516:0516:3517:05

Wilmot-Smith Memorial Handicap

Off time: 15:36 | Winning time: 2m 10.02s

(5)

Hayadh¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: S H James| T: Harvey Bastiman| OR: 90

9/1

Arrives in good nick, seventh of 15 in handicap at Thirsk (8f, good) 15 days ago. Up in trip and not taken lightly if his stamina holds out.

Form: 159-647

(3)

Waarif¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: Sean Kirrane⁽⁵⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 90| C| D

18/1

Course winner but he's offered little both runs this spring after 18 months off, last of 15 in handicap (100/1) at Thirsk 15 days ago. Hard to warm to.

Form: 1555/90

(1)

Memory Dream¹⁶⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: T Hamilton| T: I Furtado| OR: 90WS

10/1

Fairly useful ex-French 7f winner but he's shown little in two runs for current yard, only seventh of 8 in handicap at Wolverhampton (7.2f) in November. Since had wind op and has something to prove.

Form: 473977-

(6)

Eagle Court²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 88| D

7/2

Dual 1m2f winner on soft ground last autumn. 14/1, never a threat when last of 6 in 1m handicap here (good to firm) on return. Should strip fitter now, and player with ground conditions to suit.

Form: 66110-6

(7)

Dontaskmeagain²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 87

4/1

Off 6 months, 6/1, creditable second of 6 in handicap at Hamilton (9.2f, good to soft) 2 days ago, every chance late but unable to sustain effort. One to consider if turned out again quickly.

Form: 118/60-2

(2)

Jean Baptiste²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Mark Crehan⁽⁵⁾| T: G Boughey| OR: 83

3/1

Signed off for 2020 with 7f Chelmsford City win and in good nick this term, creditable second in handicap at Newmarket (8f, good to soft) 2 days ago. Up in trip. Shortlist material.

Form: 1-42252

(4)

Benadalid³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: P Mulrennan| T: C W Fairhurst| OR: 82| CD

4/1

C&D winner who wasn't disgraced after 6 months off when sixth of 10 in handicap back here 31 days ago, not ideally placed. Should strip fitter now, and well in the mix.

Form: 05263-6

Forecasts

Jean Baptiste (3/1), Eagle Court (7/2), Benadalid (4/1), Dontaskmeagain (4/1), Hayadh (9/1), Memory Dream (10/1), Waarif (18/1)

A tightly-knit handicap in which it could be worth taking a chance on David O'Meara's EAGLE COURT getting back on track now he has ground conditions to suit and a recent run under his belt. C&D winner Benadalid seems sure to build on his reappearance sixth here and rates the chief danger, although Dontaskmeagain would be interesting if turned out quickly after his good comeback on Friday.