15:40 Ripon

Sunday 15 May 2022

All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:4017:10

Ripon, Cathedral City Of The Dales Handicap

Off time: 15:51 | Winning time: 2m 2.24s

(5)

Brilliant Light⁹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Louis Steward| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 92| D

7/2

14/1, stepped up on reappearance when seventh of 15 in handicap at Meydan (12f, good) 3 months ago, late headway. Should be competitive from this mark so one for the shortlist back down in trip.

Form: 4004-47

(4)

Fishable^p,t²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 91| CD

5/2

3-time C&D winner. 11/2, failed to come on for his return when fourth of 7 in handicap at this course (12f, good) 22 days ago, looking awkward from 3f out. Down to his last winning mark but others appeal more on balance.

Form: 1509-54

(1)

Copper And Five¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Joanna Mason| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 85| C

8/1

Course winner. 20/1, ran up to best when fourth of 15 in handicap at Thirsk (8f, good to firm) 15 days ago, every chance 1f out. Up in trip. Not dismissed.

Form: 613-664

(7)

Society Red⁷³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 82| BF| D

18/1

Form was up and down on turf last term but resurgent on all-weather this winter, gaining third victory at Wolverhampton (9.5f) in February. Clearly not 100% at Newcastle the following month (lame) but he may just find a couple too good back on turf.

Form: 41-1215

(8)

Fairmac^b¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 81| D

17/2

Tough front runner who ran no sort of race and was possibly amiss when last of 13 in handicap at Chester (10.3f, good to soft) 10 days ago. Now below his last winning mark but tough to support with much confidence after recent exploits.

Form: 424-350

(6)

Benadalid²²

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: Jason Hart| T: C W Fairhurst| OR: 78| CD

10/3

17/2, returned to form when second of 5 in handicap at Doncaster (10.2f, good to firm) 22 days ago, staying on inside final 1f (needing stronger gallop). won this corresponding race from a 4 lb higher mark in 2021 so he's fancied to be in the mix.

Form: 537-592

(3)

Grangeclare View²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 76

12/1

9/1, again ran creditably when third of 10 in handicap at Nottingham (8.3f, good to firm) 29 days ago. Gives his running more often than not but isn't obviously well treated.

Form: 412-743

(2)

Briardale²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 8-7| J: William Pyle⁽⁷⁾| T: E Bethell| OR: 74| CD

12/1

Enjoyed a fine 2021 scoring 3 times (including over C&D). Ran poorly after 8 months off when sixth of 8 in handicap at Ayr (10f, good, 5/1) 20 days ago, racing closer to pace than ideal. Should be much closer to form here.

Form: 05134-6

Forecasts

Fishable (5/2), Benadalid (10/3), Brilliant Light (7/2), Copper And Five (8/1), Fairmac (17/2), Briardale (12/1), Grangeclare View (12/1), Society Red (18/1)

Several in with a shout but the vote goes to last year's winner BENADALID. Chris Fairhurst's charge is 4 lb lower than on that occasion, and having looked back in decent nick when second at Doncaster just over 3 weeks ago, he can go one better here and open his account for the season. Brilliant Light failed to make much impact in Meydan earlier this year but he's fancied to give the selection most to think about, ahead of Briardale.