16:20 Ripon

Thursday 1 June 2023

All14:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:5017:22

Ripon Cathedral Handicap

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 2m 4.57s

(2)

Imperial Sands^b¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Mr Taylor Fisher⁽⁵⁾| T: A Watson| OR: 90

12/1

2 wins from 6 runs this year. Latest win at Kempton in April. 33/1, below form tenth of 16 in handicap at York (7.9f, firm) 14 days ago, ridden too aggressively. Back up in trip.

Form: 194010

(3)

Baryshnikov³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Ben Robinson| T: T D Barron| OR: 89| CD

5/2

C&D winner. Good third of 9 in handicap (17/2) at Redcar (10f, good) 3 days ago, plenty to do under 2f out and running on. Not out of things from this mark but his tardiness at the start is often a concern.

Form: 00-9363

(1)

Pisanello¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 87

9/2

Strike rate is hardly compelling but he's highly consistent and well ridden to end losing run a shade readily in 13-runner Hamilton handicap (8.3f) 18 days ago. Clearly at the top of his game but this sort of trip may just be at the limit of his stamina.

Form: 3242-21

(5)

Cockalorum⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: Jason Hart| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 82| CD

8/1

Fallen long way in weights and confirmed his effectiveness fresh when ending losing run from the front over C&D 6 weeks ago, showing a good attitude to boot. Remains with handicapping scope on old form but this is tougher.

Form: 84025-1

(7)

Nigwa¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: E Bethell| OR: 80| CD

5/2

C&D winner. Good second of 14 in handicap at Hamilton (9.2f, good, 10/3) 18 days ago, no room on inner over 1f out and staying on. Remains less exposed than most and very much of interest again.

Form: 2215-52

(4)

Tarbaan^p,t¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: K Stott| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 80| D

7/1

Sixth of 9 in handicap at Newmarket (8f, good, 15/2) 13 days ago, weakening over 1f out. May have needed the run on back of 4 months off then and better showing anticipated in re-fitted cheekpieces.

Form: 3514-46

(8)

Society Red^p²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 8-11| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 78| CD

28/1

C&D winner. Eleven runs since last win in 2022. 12/1, last of 9 in handicap at Ayr (10f, good) 24 days ago. Now below last winning mark.

Form: 56-6829

(6)

Poet's Dawn¹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-4| J: J P Sullivan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 71| CD

12/1

C&D winner. 11/1, creditable third of 9 in handicap at Beverley (8.4f, good to firm) 1 day ago.

Form: 01-4003

Forecasts

Baryshnikov (5/2), Nigwa (5/2), Pisanello (9/2), Tarbaan (7/1), Cockalorum (8/1), Poet's Dawn (12/1), Imperial Sands (12/1), Society Red (28/1)

A C&D maiden winner as a 3-y-o, NIGWA took another step forward without being seen to very best effect when runner-up at Hamilton (9.2f) last month. She gets the narrow vote to confirm the promise of that run from a 1 lb higher mark, with Baryshnikov and Hamilton-scorer Pisanello heading up the dangers.