|
The Nick Willmott
05 June 2007
3.30
Ripon – The Nick
Willmot-Smith Memorial Handicap Class 3 (3yo 0-95) 6F Gd – FM
1 –
Charles Darwin – Showed that a
return to form was imminent with a solid 4th at Newmarket
in a class 2 handicap sprint behind Commando Scott on soft good to
soft ground just over a week ago. That was a better class handicap
then what he is likely to be up against today and that is showed by
the fact he has to carry top weight despite being 8lbs lower then
the highest BHB mark allowed in this handicap. Likely to make a bold
bid from the front the less stiff track of Ripon could see him last
this 6F out with improved conditions under foot which he handles
just as well as soft and with a previous 2nd here in his
maiden giving him course form and the 1lb higher marker then when
beating Third Set at Ayr straight track as a 3yo he shouldn’t be to
far away here and could a lean spell for the trainer who hasn’t had
a winner for 83 days.
My Tissue Price
– 13/2
2 –
Desert Commander – Another one
that likes to be up with pace but doesn’t need to be up front and
can tuck in behind the pace here. A winner over this track when
victories in this race last term from Zidane and paid for that win
with a 8lbs penalty and was given some hard task after that from the
top end of the handicap in top handicaps and has plummeted in the
handicap since returning this season dropping yet another 3lbs from
a lacklustre attempt at York last time behind Wyatt Earp. Now 4lbs
below his win in this last term he comes into the race needing some
form but should be at his fittest now having had two previous runs.
A galloping straight 6F is ideal and the dry ground and drop in
grade to an easier task should have him in with a shout today.
Handles big weights such as this and this looks a easier race then
the one he won last term so very much respected.
My Tissue Price
– 4/1
3 –
My Gacho – Bounced back to form once again at Thirsk race
course in which he is a 100% at the course and despite that narrow
victory from the exposed Bahamian Pirate he is only 1lb higher in
the handicap. Likes to dominate the field and small fields such as
this usually suit and it will be down to the likes of Charles Darwin
to try and unsettle him at the front as he can be very hard to past
especially on genuine quick ground as its likely to be and this 5yo
who does well with constant racing comes from a stable who can do no
wrong at the moment with a plethora of winners in the last 2 weeks
and has to widely respected in this handicap with a lot in favour
for a bold bid today under his usual jockey.
My Tissue Price
– 9/2
4 –
Gallery Girl – Stayed on well
last time behind Angus Newz but never really threaten to land the
handicap over course and distance and it’s no surprise to see her
return to this track for another crack at a similar prize in a race
full of potential returning to form sprinters and she falls into
that category. Better weighted with Steel Blue but wrong at the
weights with Desert Commander based on the 5F handicap at Beverley
in which there was a few unlucky stories in behind the stiff 5F that
day wouldn’t have been to her liking so she can be rated (as could
the others) a bit better then that run suggested. This galloping 6F
should be more to her liking but she was a little of her feet over
6F on good racing ground here last time so the quicker underfoot
conditions may have her slightly struggling early on and she will be
staying on once again as she is well handicapped and looks a certain
winner when given a galloping 6F with ease in the ground. On the
jockey bookings she looks the first choice for a stable who haven’t
the best win to run ratio in all age handicaps here.
My Tissue Price
– 10/1
5 –
Yorkshire Blue – Looks
handicapped up to his best form on return to action at Ascot in a
handicap that isn’t producing a load of winners and this Ayr
specialist will have it all to do to defy the weights today but was
highly progressive last season albeit at a lower level and given the
Ayr Silver cup running would struggle to reverse the form with Steel
Blue on that running given the change in track not likely to suit as
much as rival and the field size most probably being better suited
to the pace for Steel Blue then Yorkshire Blue (they are identically
weighted after jockeys claims) and would expect that Jim Goldie has
longer term plans for Yorkshire Blue with that course being the main
objective to his plans.
My Tissue Price
– 16/1
6 –
Trojan Flight – Lands similar
types of handicaps each season at Catterick of Thrisk and comes here
in form after landing a class 5 handicap on good to firm ground and
constantly wins around the low 70 mark for his old trainer and it
wouldn’t be no surprise to see Richard Fahey get him back in to the
80’s for handicaps later in the season as Trojan flight who has ran
no less then 57 times is only 6yo. Best in big field handicaps when
he gets a good pace he is up two classes here as he looks to improve
on his class 3 handicap form that sees him 0/8 so far and even
though ground trip and track all should be in favour the run of the
race and better class of opponents is likely to have him beaten
under a penalty today.
My Tissue Price
– 12/1
7 –
Countdown – won in fair style
when landing a soft ground handicap at Catterick over 7F in which
Trojan Flight was well beaten in 7th and at the weights
today looks to hold that rival. However this is a totally different
race in which the conditions are not totally sure to suit as easy
ground looks ideal for this horse that appears to be 2nd
choice of the Tim Easterby stable for this handicap and this sharper
test and 3lbs higher mark doesn’t strike me as ideal. Kevin Darley
is in for the ride for a stable in form and he does well for. On
form he has an outside chance.
My Tissue Price
– 20/1
8 –
Steel Blue – Comes from a stable
that hasn’t had a winner for 166 days and has only gone close on two
attempts in the last 14 days so that has to be a big negative but
Steel Blue has the class to land this prize today from his current
mark that is only 2lbs higher then when winning a similar race to
this at Epsom last season and the return of his 5lbs claimer who
gets on very well with the horse based on the tune he got out of him
in the Ayr Silver Cup in which he has a good weight swing Yorkshire
Blue and a form line to the likes of Desert Commander and Charles
Darwin using two good yardsticks for galloping 6F handicaps based on
this event. A course and distance winner returned to form last time
when narrowly beaten in 4th to My Gacho who was made to
work for that victory and could well be up to reversing that form
with today’s booking and Paul Mulrennen being back partnered with
Lake Chini who was narrowly in front behind My Gacho that day and it
looks as if the trainer has given the claimer ago to enhance the
chances at the weights. With small fields suiting and the trainer
having a good strike rate in all age handicaps here it may be a rare
winning day for the yard.
My Tissue Price
– 4/1
9 –
Lake Chini
– Another who ran a blinder in the Thrisk Handicap last month and is
very tightly weighted with those two on form. Paul Mulrennen goes
back to ride for Mick Easterby and has the leg up for the first time
on this horse as Dale Gibson was given the ride last time and prior
to that was a inmate at the Michael Jarvis yard. Looks ready to
strike he would have preferred the ground to been on the slow side
of good as to the quick side of good today and maybe best caught
when given a chance at Chester in the near future. Handicapped to
strike he is another possible but may just struggle to reverse the
form and confirm the form with the two he is tightly weighted with
here.
My Tissue Price
– 6-1
Verdict –
My Gacho has obvious claims
being that he is basically weighted to the same as his victory last
time out in a informative race to this but the price looks a little
short at around a general price of 3/1 as he isn’t certain to
confirm that piece of form with the likes of
Steel Blue who is around 9/2 for
this handicap. Desert Commander
last years winner is raced with blinkers looking to keep him
interested in the race lone enough to go through with his effort and
on a form line using Zomerlust
as consistent 6F galloper his form isn’t that worse off with
Steel Blue and looks a standout
bet at 8-1 now he is well handicapped and given a task that he is
more then capable of landing.
Lake Chini
is the other to make a appeal at around 8-1.
Selection –
Desert
Commander
2pts win @ 8-1 (BF 9.8)
Well Chief
|