16:30 Ripon

Saturday 22 July 2023

All14:4615:2015:5616:3017:0517:40

Ripon Bell-Ringer Handicap

Off time: 16:31 | Winning time: 2m 41.14s

(3)

Chillingham^h³²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: E Bethell| OR: 97| D

5/6

Promising sort. Latest win at Thirsk in April. Respectable fourth of 16 in handicap at Royal Ascot (14.2f, good, 11/1) 32 days ago, slowly away. Remains open to improvement and one to be interested in here.

Form: 5131-14

(1)

Dark Jedi²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 95| CD

7/1

C&D winner. Respectable sixth of 11 in handicap at Ayr (13.1f, firm, 10/1) 28 days ago. Bagged this race in 2021 but looks vulnerable for win purposes this time round.

Form: 76-6306

(2)

Sir Rumi¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Owen Lewis⁽⁷⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 93| D

9/1

Latest win at Epsom in April. 11/1, twelfth of 13 in handicap at Haydock (11.8f, good to firm) 14 days ago, unsuited by emphasis on speed. Capable of a bold show provided he gets a strong pace to aim at.

Form: 201360

(7)

Pride Of Priory^t⁸⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: A J Farragher⁽³⁾| T: W J Haggas| OR: 93| BF| C| D

14/1

Course winner. Tongue strap on for 1st time, last of 6 in handicap (16/5) at this C&D (heavy) 84 days ago. Conditions are unlikely to be quite so testing here and no surprise if he bounces back with a bold show.

Form: 1175-96

(5)

Charging Thunder^v1¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 93| D

12/1

Six wins from 21 Flat runs. 7/1, good third of 6 in handicap at Ayr (13.1f, good to soft) 12 days ago. Visor on 1st time and, having slipped to a workable mark, he's not without a chance.

Form: 755903

(4)

Mr Curiosity⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: J P Sullivan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 89| D

6/1

18/1, creditable third of 8 in handicap at Chester (11.3f, soft) 8 days ago. Will be a threat if able to build on that effort here.

Form: 04/88-53

(6)

Thundering²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: S A Gray| T: K A Ryan| OR: 87| D

11/1

Respectable fourth of 8 in handicap at Newcastle (10.2f, 9/2) 21 days ago. Has edged down to an attractive mark but record stands at 0-8 on turf.

Form: 278-504

Forecasts

Chillingham (5/6), Mr Curiosity (6/1), Dark Jedi (7/1), Sir Rumi (9/1), Thundering (11/1), Charging Thunder (12/1), Pride Of Priory (14/1)

None of these can be ruled out with confidence. MR CURIOSITY shaped as though his turn may again be near at Chester recently and he could be the answer. Chillingham is by no means fully exposed and looks a big threat on the back of his respectable effort at Royal Ascot. He is second choice, albeit only marginally as a back-to-form Pride of Priory would also have a serious chance.