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Preview - 28 Aug 2007

 

3.30 City of Ripon Handicap (Class 3) (3yo+ 0-90) 10F Good to firm

1 – Southern Regret – The first of two runners for Alan Swinbank and one that is making his debut for the yard as well as in the UK. Last seen behind Impeller in the desert when a well-beaten 9th back in February for his last trainer. Hard to know what quite to fathom from this race as he could have been flattered to have finished so close to Lost Solider Three and Wild Savannah, but the handicapper seems to have him around about the right mark and the market should be the best guide as the trainer can improve most that he purchase and the jockey booking of Neil Callen is always interesting for this trainer.

My Tissue Price – 9/1

2 – Hartshed – Well beaten last time in quite a competitive class 3 handicap at Doncaster behind Webbow and the 2nd the time before behind Ragheed doesn’t look to bad form and his handicap mark has been dropped again for this run making him well handicapped on form of last summer. Yet to sparkle so far this season and being stepped up in trip to try and find some form, the 2nd of two runners for Alan Swinbank and paired with a claimer to take 3lbs off that looks much needed based on his form this season. Top of the ground suits best but the trip may be a concern based on his 9F form behind Goodbye Mr Bond at York who he meets here today on better terms.

My Tissue Price – 10/1

3 – Goodbye Mr Bond – Beat Hartshed comfortably enough at York over 9F last June and always seems to run his race at this class and has to be one for the shortlist for this race with trip and ground causing this consistent performer any problems. Taking a drop in class after finding youngsters to good for him last time at Haydock over a mile even though not disgraced in that handicap. Been kept on the go this season and only victory has come over 9F when beating Baliebrough at Ayr in a muddling affair and suggestions are that 9F is his best trip. Good effort when last seen at this level behind Webbow and was unlucky not to finish much closer having met trouble. Another good effort in the Zetland Gold cup suggests he is well worth another chance over this 10F trip and isn’t to badly handicapped on form.

My Tissue Price – 7/4

4 – Vicious Warrior – Often kept on the go around this time of year and yet another season where he has picked up prize money with a good win on desperate ground at York back in July proving his consistent level having won on most surfaces. Best with cut in the ground and a trip over a mile, he is a course winner over this distance in his earlier years and is currently on a winning mark suggesting he could well still land a handicap such as this but the absence of Dean Mckewon is eye catching having strike up a great relationship with the horse.

My Tissue Price – 14/1

5 – Orpen Wide – Better known these days for his hurdling ability then his ability to land flat handicaps, he has been seen over sprint trips of late and has never won over a mile on the flat in his long career for a 5yo. Couldn’t manage to give Emerald Wildness 8lbs at Windsor on his last effort over this trip and after the claim of his regular flat pilot today finds himself 13lbs better off at the weights with that rival for a never nearer 6.5L. The performance however could have been better if he wasn’t hampered but the horse had to be strongly rousted from last place and never looked threatening and wouldn’t want to fall to far off the pace around Ripon.

My Tissue Price – 14/1

6 – Emerald Wildness – May struggle at the weights with the above but this 3yo has shown a great attitude so far this season and has ultra consistent form figures and has progressed well this summer from a early season mark that is stone lower then his current one. No Penalty for the narrow defeat last time over a shorter trip and the step back up to 10F looks very much in favour here and Seb taking over from Frankie isn’t as much of a negative as it first looks as he has a good record for Ed Dunlop. Running against in the main a exposed bunch of handicappers he could go very close to winning another handicap this season which will see his days in class 3 handicaps well behind him.

My Tissue Price – 4/1

7 – Harvest Warrior – Has the ability to land handicaps such as this and hasn’t been disgraced over 10F in his last two starts at Beverley and over this course and distance. The run at Beverley the form has had a minor boost with the 3rd going well in Saturday’s big handicap at the same track but there may be some doubt over the quality of that race as well as others have flopped again. 3 Time winner over a mile and yet to win on quick ground Harvest Warrior very rarely runs a bad race at this track and should once again go close in this handicap.

My Tissue Price – 9/1

8 – Go Tech – Finished last on last start behind Ragheed in a small field run race at Redcar last time over a mile and that was a very poor effort given that he had every chance and was beaten by a soft ground horse in 4th and meets Hartshead identically at the weights today. The things he has in his favour is that he has the services of David Allan today a Jockey that knows him inside out and the step up in trip is a massive bonus as he had never won over a mile before maybe suggesting it was no surprise to see him left behind in a sprint finish in that small ran race. Likely to reverse the form with Hartshead he may want a stiffer track but his trainer is double handed in this handicap today and all wins come after June so this is his time of year.

My Tissue Price – 8/1

9 – Snowed Under – Leicester specialist and yet to show his form at any other track having recorded 5 wins over 10F at the Midlands track. Flopped last time at Leicester and its to be seen if a lesser test of stamina then what he gets at Leicester is likely to suit. No easing in the handicap by the handicapper and resumes 3lbs higher then the class 4 handicaps win over the exposed Fabrian who seems past his absolute best this season. Jockey won on his only ride on the horse but class 3 handicaps and marks over 73 have seen him well beaten in the past.

My Tissue Price – 14/1

10 – Symbol of Peace – Been mostly campaigned on the all weather, but came good on the turf when narrowly scoring at Nottingham from Spring Goddess over a mile on good to firm ground. Has tackled further then today’s trip on the sharp track at Dunstall park and ran with credit on both occasions albeit at a lower level where he pulled to hard for his own good, This easy 10F should well suit and he could well improve on the awful run he put together on really firm ground at Head Quarters last time in a easier race then this. Could have been regarded as disappointing over 9F at Wolverhampton the time before and very unlikely to get a uncontested lead in what is his hardest task set to him in a handicap so far even though dropped to a winning handicap mark.

My Tissue price – 16/1

11 – Little Jimbob – Have to take note of Richard Fahey runners and this part time hurdler has quite a few question marks to answer today. Won a classified stakes race from Everest at Carlisle under stable jockey over 9F on ground with cut in but doesn’t look the most straight forward. A winner of a handicap of 74 and well beaten over CD last time of that mark suggesting he isn’t as good as old. However he has been dropped 2lbs in the weight and such is the questionable nature of the horse it could well be that he is on a going day and the form of the last run can be overlooked as just one of those days he sulked. Has ground to make up on Harvest Warrior but could easily do so.

My Tissue Price – 12/1

12 – Suits Me – Winner last time out and given a much tougher assignment this time around as he is 1lb out of the handicap for today’s race. Winner on heavy ground from Smuggles Bay, where he had consistent bench mark Bajan Parks back in 3rd a horse who runs identical races every time. The 4lb penalty plus the 1lb to get in the handicap may have him struggling to follow up here in a much tougher race and the low weight isn’t enough with the total contrast in conditions to when last seen at this track, where he handled heavy ground really well. Twice a quick ground winner in earlier days he lacks true ability of his 2yo days and can claim a place at best in my view.

My Tissue Price – 20/1

Tissue Prices – Goodbye Mr Bond 7/4, Emerald Wildness 4/1, Go tech 8/1, Harvest Warrior, Southern Regret 9/1, Hartshead 10/1, Little Jimbob12/1, Snowed Under, Vicious warrior, Orpen Wide14/1, Symbol of peace 16/1, Suits Me 20/1

Verdict – On a quite day of racing as the nights draw in, this handicap is half decent for a Tuesday's racing and there are plenty of ways at looking at it. Firstly is the improving handicapper Emerald Wildness, who could still have more to offer against exposed types, where this handicap holds quite a few. The exposed brigade could see the ever-young Goodbye Mr Bond record his best win in a handicap at the age of 7, while Tim Easterby has a well-handicapped 7yo in Go Tech who could well bounce back to form now over his correct trip. Southern Regret adds some extra spice to this event on debut for a trainer who I have a lot of time for, given his National Hunt bumper horses holding all before them in both codes.

Selection – Go Tech 2pts win @ 11-1 (BF 12’s) & Goodbye Mr Bond 2pts win @ 7-1 (BF9’s)

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