Form lines from sprint handicaps the length of the country converge in the Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon on Saturday, including the well-run Scottish Stewards’ Cup at Hamilton in July won by the subsequent Stewards’ Cup winner, Commanche Falls.
Music Society, Mr Wagyu and Staxton – who were second, third and fourth respectively there – all line up, with Staxton, the winner 12 months ago off a 4lb lower mark, a few pounds better off at the revised weights.
He was able to grab the stands’ rail from a high draw last year, however, and failed to land a blow in the Stewards’ Cup last time.
Mr Wagyu (3.45), by contrast, went on to record the latest of several career-bests this season when storming to success in the Stewards’ Sprint at Goodwood. His winning time there suggested he is still thriving and he is a fair price at around 7-1 to continue his remarkable progress this year.
Newbury 1.45 A ready winner on debut over this track and trip in July, Bayside Boy could improve past Masekela, a runner-up at Group Two level last time.
Newmarket 2.00 Georgia Dobie and Quenelle D’Or may get a soft lead here and Hugo Palmer’s filly is proven at the trip. A price around 8-1 could look big if they are allowed their own way in front.
Southwell: 1.35 Babe Alicious, 2.10 Mystic Well, 2.45 Thrave, 3.20 Marve, 3.55 Ventura Vision, 4.30 King Viktor
Chelmsford City: 1.50 Saatty, 2.25 Precious Plum, 3.00 Sky Blue Thinking, 3.35 Star Jewel, 4.10 Trepidation, 4.45 Dynali, 5.20 Miss Sligo
Pontefract: 2.00 Bloomington Bride, 2.35 Boltaway (nb), 3.10 Double Or Bubble (nap), 3.45 Baby Alya, 4.20 Flint Hill, 4.55 Alpha Cru, 5.25 Mutanaaseq
Newbury 2.20 Just three lengths behind Wonderful Tonight, a leading contender for the Arc in October, in the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot in June, Hukum will take all the beating as he drops back to Group Three level here.
Newmarket 2.35 Highly competitive but Cahors is potentially overpriced at around 6-1. She put up a career-best when second at Yarmouth last time and Tony Carson’s three-year-old has more scope for improvement than most of her rivals.
Newbury 2.55 After shrugging off a nine-month break to make a winning return to action at Doncaster last month, Aratus still has only three runs in the book.
Lingfield Park 1.00 Hackbridge 1.30 Largo Bay 2.05 Carmela Soprano 2.40 True Belief 3.15 Evening Song 3.50 Katelli
Catterick Bridge 1.45 I’m A Gambler (nap) 2.20 Quercus 2.55 Mr Strutter 3.30 Mutaabeq 4.05 Nadein 4.35 Refuge 5.08 Iolani
Windsor 4.50 Blue Moonrise 5.25 Rose Barton 5.55 Han Solo Berger 6.25 Tall Order 6.55 Prince Of Harts (nb) 7.25 Tynwald
Bangor-On-Dee 5.00 Zafar 5.35 War At Sea 6.05 Hurricane Ali 6.35 Mr Mafia 7.05 Calum Gilhooley 7.35 Jessica Rabbit 8.05 Sir Tivo
Ripon 3.10 With the pick of the draw against the stands’ rail, Ghathanfar arrives in top form and goes on any ground so a price of around 7-1 is worth taking.
Newbury 3.30 Five of the first seven home in the ultra‑competitive International Handicap at Ascot last month were drawn high, so Danyah deserves extra credit for winning from stall four. He can give Owen Burrows a second Hungerford Stakes in the past five years.
