15:45 Ripon

Saturday 14 August 2021

All14:0514:4015:1015:4516:2016:5017:25

William Hill Great St Wilfrid Handicap

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 1m 9.72s

(3)

Brad The Brief³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Kieran Schofield⁽⁵⁾| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 104| D

18/1

Smart form when gaining Group-level breakthrough at Chantilly in October (6f). More miss than hit in 4 starts this term, below best in French Group 3 last month. Return to handicaps may help.

Form: 41-9055

(2)

Lampang^t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: S De Sousa| T: T D Easterby| OR: 103| CD

6/1

C&D winner. Back to best when successful at Hamilton (6f) in June and excuses on account of the draw in Wokingham/Stewards' Cup either side of his second in Haydock minor event. Not ruled out.

Form: 061020

(6)

Mr Lupton¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: Connor Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 103| D

28/1

Third in this race 12 months ago and back to very best when striking at York (6f) in May. However, been a long way below that level at Ascot/Goodwood since and bounce back called for.

Form: 0-74100

(11)

Mr Wagyu^v¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 99| CD

15/2

Gone from strength-to-strength, registering fifth success of the season when readily landing Stewards' Sprint (6f) at Goodwood 2 weeks ago. Foolish to rule out another big run in this groove.

Form: 912321

(20)

Intrinsic Bond¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Connor Beasley| T: Miss Tracy Waggott| OR: 96| BF| D

7/1

Progressed again this season, winning readily at Catterick (6f) prior to a solid second from 10 lb higher mark over C&D 12 days ago. No reason why he won't go well again.

Form: 485612

(5)

Boardman³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: T Eaves| T: T D Easterby| OR: 95

25/1

Real success for Tim Easterby this year, landing hat-trick with bit in hand at Chester (7.6f) in May. Undone by draw at Ascot next time but seemingly just below form in Bunbury Cup since. Back in trip

Form: 611100

(15)

Soldier's Minute^h¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 94| D

20/1

Smart gelding who added to his tally at Kempton (6f) in November. Not in quite the same form either start thereafter and he's not been at his best either start so far this term.

Form: 0194-04

(8)

Staxton^p¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 92| CD

15/2

Likeable sort who landed this race from 4 lb lower mark last term. Not at best at Goodwood (6f) 2 weeks ago but form of his previous Hamilton fourth reads well and considered returned to this venue.

Form: 0-10040

(18)

Gale Force Maya^p¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods| OR: 92| D

12/1

Likeable mare who regained winning thread at Doncaster (7f) in April and she arrives here on the back of solid placed efforts, latterly when third over C&D 12 days ago. Each-way claims again.

Form: 193033

(19)

Justanotherbottle^b1¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 92| D

18/1

Found plenty when signing off last year in the ideal fashion at Catterick (5f) in October. Caught the eye at Newcastle in June but not in anything like the same form in Stewards' Cup. Blinkered now.

Form: 382070

(7)

Music Society¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: Cam Hardie| T: T D Easterby| OR: 90| D

12/1

Deservedly back to winning ways at Pontefract (6f) in June and plenty of good efforts since, fourth from less-than-ideal position behind Mr Wagyu at Goodwood latest. Mark has risen but not discounted.

Form: 120224

(12)

Mokaatil^t,v⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: P J McDonald| T: Ian Williams| OR: 88| C| D

40/1

Epsom 'Dash' winner who bounced back to land 5f Musselburgh handicap 8 days ago, staying on to lead close home. Tongue tie added to visor here and not dismissed back up at 6f.

Form: 815791

(9)

Lincoln Park¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: Harry Burns⁽⁵⁾| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 88| D

20/1

Having a very good season, winning 3 times, including last 2 starts at Chester, showing his versatility regarding trip and tactics. Rider's claim more than off-sets weight rise but this is tougher.

Form: 003211

(16)

Soul Seeker²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Sean Kirrane⁽⁵⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 87

12/1

Likeable sort who continues to thrive for this yard, adding fourth success to the tally at York (5f) 3 weeks ago, finding extra when tackled. That may not prove his limit.

Form: 362211

(13)

Embour^p⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 87| D

33/1

Returned with 6f win at Redcar and lost little caste in defeat when fourth in the Gosforth Park Cup at Newcastle in June. Best effort since when fourth at Musselburgh 8 days ago and eased 2 lb since.

Form: 744704

(10)

Muscika^b²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-6| J: Joanna Mason⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 86| D

28/1

Very capable on his day, runner-up in class 2, 6f handicap on Derby day. Lesser efforts followed, yet latest York display best overlooked (missed break). Positive tactics likely to be restored here.

Form: 025470

(17)

Golden Apollo^p,t⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-6| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 86| D

12/1

Not the easiest to catch right nowadays and losing run stretches back almost 2 years. On the flipside, the handicapper continues to relinquish his grip and a decent showing certainly not ruled out.

Form: 083267

(14)

Abate⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: Barry McHugh| T: Adrian Nicholls| OR: 86| CD

28/1

Quickly dispelled York blip when landing handicaps at Nottingham/Newmarket in July. Faded in to fifth only late on at latter venue 8 days ago but he was well held in this race 12 months ago.

Form: 320115

(1)

Illusionist^b²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-5| J: A Mullen| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 85| D

50/1

Capitalised on falling mark at Hamilton (6f) in May. Essentially shaped as though still in good form since (raced closer to strong pace than ideal latest) but others preferred on balance.

Form: 881589

(4)

Manigordo^t²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-5| J: P Hanagan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 85| D

33/1

Off the mark at second attempt for this yard at Thirsk (6f) in April and back to that level when second at Redcar 2 starts back. However, latest finishing effort at York was a shade underwhelming.

Form: 037720

Forecasts

Lampang (6/1), Intrinsic Bond (7/1), Staxton (15/2), Mr Wagyu (15/2), Golden Apollo (12/1), Gale Force Maya (12/1), Soul Seeker (12/1), Music Society (12/1), Justanotherbottle (18/1), Brad The Brief (18/1), Lincoln Park (20/1), Soldier's Minute (20/1), Boardman (25/1), Abate (28/1), Mr Lupton (28/1), Muscika (28/1), Manigordo (33/1), Embour (33/1), Mokaatil (40/1), Illusionist (50/1)

Tim Easterby typically holds a strong hand and it may pay to side with last year's winner STAXTON to emerge victorious again. He was not at his best at Goodwood, but his previous Hamilton form with several of these reads well, particularly on the revised terms and a return to this venue is a big plus. Mr Wagyu goes from strength to strength and is feared, along with Soul Seeker and Lampang.