15:20 Ripon

Thursday 20 June 2024

All13:3514:0514:4015:2015:5516:3517:10

Kirby Thomas Grand Finale Classic Handicap

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 2m 4.06s

(5)

Fountain Cross⁶¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Sean Kirrane| T: T D Easterby| OR: 77

33/1

Fairly useful dual AW winner for Alan King in 2022. Missed whole of last season and returns from 20 months off having changed hands for 16,000 gns. Betting looks likely to prove the best guide as to expectations.

Form: 119007/

(3)

Ey Up Its The Boss²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: D Nolan| T: T Coyle & K Wood| OR: 77| CD

9/4

Made a very bright start to the campaign, resuming winning ways in 10-runner C&D handicap in May prior to a good third up in class back over C&D 21 days ago. Of interest again.

Form: 360-213

(7)

Hortzadar¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: Mark Winn⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 74| C

15/2

Course winner who turned in best effort of the season after a 7-week break when second of 7 in handicap (5/1) at Hamilton (9.2f, good to firm) 14 days ago. Lines up here 2 lb below last winning mark if he can build on that.

Form: 488872

(2)

Garden Oasis^b¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 9-11| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 70| C| D

10/3

1 win from 3 runs this year. Didn't need to improve to win 11-runner handicap at this course (8f, good to firm, 10/3) 15 days ago, making all and proving determined when challenged. 2 lb rise shouldn't prevent him going well again back at this longer trip.

Form: 757-431

(6)

Very Excellent¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: J P Sullivan| T: M E Sowersby| OR: 69| D

28/1

125/1, run best excused when thirteenth of 16 in handicap at Wetherby (10f, good to firm) 17 days ago, worst of draw and never involved. However, others arrive with more pressing claims in any case.

Form: 38716-0

(1)

Love Warrior²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: F Norton| T: C Johnston| OR: 69

9/2

Lightly-raced maiden. 10/1, eighth of 10 in handicap at Pontefract (10f, good to soft) 27 days ago, a slow start leaving him on the back foot. Too soon to be writing him from steadily easing mark.

Form: 25-958

(4)

Up The Jazz¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Connor Murtagh| T: R A Fahey| OR: 69

10/3

Good second of 8 in handicap at Hamilton (9.2f, good to firm, 9/1) 14 days ago, switched last ½f and keeping on. Mark has crept up a little on the back of that but he's a player with a repeat.

Form: 927-392

Forecasts

Ey Up Its The Boss (9/4), Up The Jazz (10/3), Garden Oasis (10/3), Love Warrior (9/2), Hortzadar (15/2), Very Excellent (28/1), Fountain Cross (33/1)

UP THE JAZZ is unexposed at this sort of trip and ran right up to his best when chasing home a rapidly-improving sort at Hamilton (9f) 2 weeks ago. He looks a big player with a repeat taking on his elders for the first time. Ey Up Its The Boss has thrived over C&D since returning in April and is feared most. Hortzadar is lurking on a handy mark and also worth bearing in mind.