18:05 Ripon

Saturday 26 April 2025

All16:0016:3517:0517:3518:0518:3519:05

Ripon Silver Sprint Trophy Handicap

Off time: 18:06 | Winning time: 57.16s

(4)

Tees Spirit⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Harrison Shaw| T: Adrian Nicholls| OR: 102| C| D

15/2

Course winner. Nine wins from 35 Flat runs. Three wins from 10 runs last year. 12½ lengths tenth of 11 to Clarendon House in listed race at Southwell (5f, 40/1) 63 days ago. Off since but will surely run closer to form this time back on turf/handicap company.

Form: 90317-0

(3)

Pilgrim¹⁸²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: J Fanning| T: T D Barron| OR: 96| D

7/4

Seriously progressive last summer, supplementing his Musselburgh win in 18-runner handicap at Royal Ascot. Assessor in control after in 2024, twelfth of 15 in handicap at Doncaster (5f, heavy, 11/1). Off 6 months but he may do even better this year.

Form: 311000-

(7)

Vintage Clarets⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: O J Orr| T: R A Fahey| OR: 95| D

9/1

Latest win at Catterick in October. Failed to beat rival both starts but should be at peak fitness now and he's edging towards that successful mark.

Form: 1210-07

(1)

Venture Capital¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Shane Gray| T: K A Ryan| OR: 90| D

5/2

Progressive on the whole in 2024 and though sent off 4/1, he shaped as though in need of the run when ninth of 10 in handicap at Pontefract (5f, good) 18 days ago. Expected to be bang there with that under his belt.

Form: 12134-9

(6)

Manila Scouse^t¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-6| J: Amie Waugh⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 85| D

14/1

Last of 10 in handicap at Pontefract (5f, good, 22/1) 18 days ago. That was a low-key reappearance but he will at least strip fitter for that.

Form: 01000-0

(2)

Ventura Express¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 8-6| J: K T O'Neill| T: P T Midgley| OR: 85| BF| D

5/1

Unlucky not to finish closer when fifth of 10 in handicap at Pontefract (5f, good, 5/2) 18 days ago given he was hampered. Makor player from same mark.

Form: 3763-25

(5)

Mondammej³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 8-4| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 81| D

18/1

Sixth of 7 in handicap at Newcastle (5f, 9/1) 37 days ago. Others more persuasive from just out of the weights back on turf.

Form: 630346

Forecasts

Pilgrim (7/4), Venture Capital (5/2), Ventura Express (5/1), Tees Spirit (15/2), Vintage Clarets (9/1), Manila Scouse (14/1), Mondammej (18/1)

VENTURA EXPRESS is just 1 lb above his last successful mark and would certainly have finished closer than fifth with a clear run at Pontefract 3 weeks ago, He looks ready to strike, with Venture Capital, who was behind the selection that day but almost certainly needed the run, feared most, ahead of Pilgrim.