19:55 Ripon

Monday 10 July 2023

All18:1518:5019:2019:5520:3021:00

Ripon Directors Cup Handicap

Off time: 19:56 | Winning time: 2m 4.29s

(9)

Baryshnikov¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: G Lee| T: T D Barron| OR: 90| BF| CD

11/2

C&D winner. Caught the eye several times this season, third of 8 in handicap at Redcar (8f, good to firm, 11/4) 17 days ago, needing stronger gallop. Back up in trip. Expected to be bang there if getting a pace to aim at.

Form: 936323

(7)

Piecederesistance²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Billy Garritty| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 83| D

17/2

Free goer who turned in another respectable sixth of 15 in handicap at York (11.8f, good to firm) 23 days ago. Drop back in trip looks a good move.

Form: 195-866

(3)

My Little Queens^p1¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: J Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 78| D

10/1

Doubled tally for the season at Hamilton in May. 7/1, creditable fourth of 10 in handicap at Pontefract (10f, good) 15 days ago. Cheekpieces on first time and she's likely to give her running.

Form: 3-12164

(2)

Stellar Grande²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: E Bethell| OR: 86| D

15/8

Promising type who improved another chunk when completing hat-trick in 5-runner handicap (10/11) at Haydock (10.2f, firm) 26 days ago. Takes on his elders for first time but has to enter calculations.

Form: 432-111

(6)

Perfect Play¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: F Norton| T: C Johnston| OR: 85| BF| D

9/2

Latest win at Chester in May and just about better than ever when second of 7 in handicap (13/8) at Redcar (10f, good to firm) 17 days ago, having run of race but nicely clear of the remainder.

Form: 14-2192

(4)

Merry Minister²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Tom Marquand| T: E Walker| OR: 80

9/2

Continued theme of race-by-race progress when landing 9-runner novice event at Thirsk (7f, soft) 20 days ago, driven out. Significantly up in trip. Makes handicap debut. Should have more to offer.

Form: 351

(5)

Oh So Charming¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: S H James| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 79

14/1

Redcar novice winner on second juvenile start in October. 13/2, sixth of 7 in handicap at Newcastle (12.4f) 11 days ago. Down in trip, which may help but he needs more from this mark.

Form: 31-36

Non-Runners

(1)

Coco Jack¹⁶

Weight: 9-7| Age: 3

T: George Scott J: Daniel Muscutt

(8)

Highwaygrey¹⁵

Weight: 9-1| Age: 7

T: T D Easterby J: D Allan

Forecasts

Stellar Grande (15/8), Perfect Play (9/2), Merry Minister (9/2), Baryshnikov (11/2), Coco Jack (7/1), Piecederesistance (17/2), My Little Queens (10/1), Highwaygrey (12/1), Oh So Charming (14/1)

Conceding plenty of weight to the 3-y-os won't be easy, but BARYSHNIKOV has been shaping up well all season and in the hope he gets a good pace to aim at, he can gain a deserved success. Coverdale and Perfect Play take on their elders for the first time and are just a couple of potential threats.