Great St Wilfrid day at Ripon was a shadow of its usual self 12 months ago, with just 14 runners in the main event and the consolation race abandoned for lack of runners, but both contests are back to full strength this year and the resurgent Cairn Gorm (3.15) may be the answer to a tightly-knit feature race.
Kevin Phillipart de Foy’s gelding was a Group Three winner for Mick Channon in his juvenile days, and set off as an unbeaten 14-1 shot for his fourth two-year-old start in the Group One Prix Morny.
That was the start of an 18-race losing streak, however, which came to end only last month, when Cairn Gorm won a competitive sprint handicap at York for his current yard on his third outing since a wind operation.
The five-year-old has been raised 4lb to 84 for that success but he still has considerable scope for progress on his old form, having set out in handicaps on a mark of 101. His latest yard is one of the most upwardly mobile in the business and at around 14-1, Cairn Gorm is an eye-catching price to give Laura Pearson a first big win since riding out her claim at the end of last month.
Brighton 2.05 Zachary 2.40 Cobalt Blue 3.15 It’s How We Roll 3.50 Rita Rana 4.25 Free Step (nb) 4.55 Media Guest
Catterick 2.25 Sameem 3.00 Crack The Kode 3.35 Harappan 4.10 Albegone 4.45 Giselles Izzy 5.20 Langholm
Bangor 4.30 The Big Jetaway 5.00 Sir Tivo 5.30 Champ Royal 6.05 Any News 6.35 McGowan’s Pass 7.05 Simply Red 7.35 Nowyouvebinandunit 8.05 Never No Trouble
Lingfield 5.10 Waterloo Sunset 5.45 Faustus 6.20 Topo Chico (nap) 6.50 Cajetan 7.20 Belo Horizonte 7.50 Sparked
Newbury 1.50: John Gosden’s Arrest was the 4-1 favourite for the Derby just two runs ago and should appreciate both this slight drop in grade and an easier surface after beating only one rival home at the royal meeting.
Newmarket 2.05: This contest restricted to greys provided Strike with the first win of his career 12 months ago and he could well double up off a 3lb higher mark.
Ripon 2.40: Thornaby Pearl was below his best at Nottingham 16 days ago but deserves a chance to bounce back to the form of his course-and-distance win last month.
Newmarket 2.25: A fiercely-competitive five-furlong dash in which Four Adaay may just hold the edge if he can back up a good run last time.
Pontefract
2.25 Tan Rapido
2.55 Evening Story
3.25 Gale Force Maya (nb)
4.00 Yorkindness
4.30 Carrigillihy
5.00 Captain Vallo
Southwell
2.35 Flavius Titus
3.05 Coast
3.40 Charlie Mason
4.10 Powerful Response
4.40 Zenjabeela
5.10 Shesadabber
5.40 Lough Leane
Sandown Park
3.45 Two Tribes (nap)
4.15 Get It
4.45 Endosser
5.15 Auld Toon Loon
5.45 Island Bandit
6.15 Marinara
6.45 Crescent Lake
Newbury 3.00: Spangled Mac has been running well in stronger races than this one and has been dropped another 1lb since the International at Ascot, so has decent prospects if the first-time cheekpieces sharpen him up.
Newbury 3.35: Chindit is the early favourite but was only eighth behind Jumby in this race 12 months ago and Eve Johnson Houghton’s five-year-old is a decent bet at around 7-2 to confirm that form.
