16:15 Ripon

Thursday 17 April 2025

All14:0014:3515:1015:4216:1516:5017:25

Ripon 'Cock O' The North' Handicap

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 2m 1.29s

(11)

Loyal Touch¹⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Archie Young⁽⁵⁾| T: C Johnston| OR: 87| D

10/1

Three wins from 20 runs last year. 18/1, creditable fourth of 9 in handicap at Southwell (12.1f). Off 147 days but place possibilities returned to turf off a workable mark.

Form: 361764-

(6)

Yorkshire Lady¹⁰¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Joanna Mason| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 85| C| D

11/1

Course winner. 15/2, sixth of 7 in handicap hurdle at Ayr (16f, heavy) 101 days ago. Latest effort in this sphere was a good one but went up 4 lb for that and she may prove vulnerable here.

Form: 6/34102-

(1)

Lord Protector²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 84| D

15/2

Twelve runs since last win in 2023. Good second of 11 in handicap at Newcastle (10.2f, 28/1) 28 days ago. Live chance off the same mark back on turf.

Form: 29950-2

(3)

Wintercrack¹⁷⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Jason Hart| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 83| BF| D

11/1

Two wins from 6 runs last year. Latest win at Nottingham in October. Ninth of 10 in handicap at Newbury (10f, heavy, 10/3). Off 174 days. Claims if she puts her best foot forward.

Form: 120019-

(10)

Financer¹⁸⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 82| D

6/1

Three wins from 10 runs last year. 16/1, respectable fifth of 14 in handicap at York (10.2f, heavy). Off 6 months and it's likely that he'll be better for the run. Yard also saddles Hosanna Power.

Form: 258015-

(8)

Have Secret^v¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Billy Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 82| D

11/4

Seventeen runs since last win in 2022. Twelfth of 16 in handicap at Doncaster (10.2f, good, 6/1) 18 days ago. Has slipped to a dangerous mark and not ruled out. Visor refitted.

Form: 55026-0

(4)

Ey Up Its The Boss¹⁸⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: D Nolan| T: T Coyle & K Wood| OR: 81| CD

7/1

C&D winner. Three wins from 13 runs last year. Creditable third of 14 in handicap (11/1) at York (10.2f, heavy) on final start of 2024. Will need to up his game a notch in order to make a winning reappearance in this contest.

Form: 832013-

(7)

Hosanna Power¹⁸⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Sean Kirrane| T: T D Easterby| OR: 80| D

14/1

9/1, respectable fifth of 13 in handicap at Chelmsford City (8f) when last seen in October. Back up in trip and resumes for new yard on a 2 lb lower mark. Interesting.

Form: 3/13965-

(2)

Cockalorum¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 9-1| J: Rowan Scott| T: Roger Fell| OR: 77| CD

9/2

Three-time C&D winner. Respectable seventh of 16 in handicap (50/1) at Doncaster (10.2f, good) 18 days ago. Down another 2 lb and he's not a forlorn hope.

Form: 54706-7

Non-Runners

(9)

Baryshnikov¹⁸

Weight: 9-5| Age: 9

T: T D Barron J: Connor Beasley

(5)

High Point²⁴

Weight: 9-2| Age: 4

T: K P De Foy J: Jason Hart

Forecasts

Have Secret (11/4), Cockalorum (9/2), Financer (6/1), Ey Up Its The Boss (7/1), Lord Protector (15/2), Loyal Touch (10/1), Baryshnikov (10/1), Wintercrack (11/1), Yorkshire Lady (11/1), Hosanna Power (14/1), High Point (14/1)

The pick of these could be HOSANNA POWER, who made a winning reappearance off 1 lb higher last term and ended that campaign with a respectable effort over a mile at Chelmsford, on what was his final run for Sir Michael Stoute. The return to this trip looks a good move and he gets the nod ahead of Lord Protector, who made a positive start to this season when second at Newcastle last month. Top-weight Loyal Touch is third choice ahead of Have Secret and Wintercrack.