Racecards
14:45 Ripon
Knaresborough Handicap (Class 5)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 5f
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £4,500 added
- Form 846231
- Age 4
- Weight 10-1
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer Paul Green
- Jockey F Norton
in touch, weakened over 1f out
- Form 533902
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer P T Midgley
- Jockey M Fenton
slowly into stride, towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, not quicken inside final furlong
- Form 3223-21
- Age 3
- Weight 9-11
- Official Rating 75
made all, ridden over 1f out, kept on
- Form 086710
- Age 4
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 68
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey D Allan
in touch, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong
- Form 000144
- Age 4
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 68
- Trainer D Nicholls
- Jockey Adrian Nicholls
slowly into stride, held up behind, effort well over 1f out, never dangerous
- Form 9-18649
- Age 4
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 64
- Trainer S Parr
- Jockey Graham Gibbons
chased leaders, weakened inside final furlong
- Form 743300
- Age 5
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 58
- Trainer Miss A Stokell
- Jockey Ann Stokell
slowly into stride, towards rear, never dangerous
- Form 4000-06
- Age 8
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 59
- Trainer J F Coupland
- Jockey T P Queally
chased winner, ridden over 2f out, stayed on towards finish, always held
In depth
Verdict
Mandurah is holding his form well and gets the nod over Timber Treasure and Wotashirtfull in this tight sprint handicap. Wotashirtfull has been the model of consistency and fully deserved to get his head in front at Newcastle 12 days ago. However, he now faces a stiff test against older horses on these terms and he needs everything to fall into place for him. Timber Treasure is also penalised for last week's success at Haydock, where he comfortably justified market support in winning by three lengths. This is a tougher ask and, even thought the former Henry Cecil inmate is in the form of his life, he was no match for the selection when they met back at Haydock month and, on a literal reading of that form, he needs to pull something out of the hat. Therefore, it can pay to stick with Mandurah, whose trainer excels in races of this nature and has enjoyed a 19% strike-rate at Ripon so far this season.
Formwatch
Timber Treasure (USA) 10-3fav (9-1) Tracked leaders, led approaching 1f out, kept on well, won at Haydock 6f hcp 0-75 (5) gf beating Steel Blue (8-9) by 3 1/2l, 13 ran.
Highland Warrior 20-1 (8-13) Switched right soon after start, ridden and headway on inside 2f out, ran on well to chase winner close home, not reach winner, 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind Crimson Fern (9-1) at Sandown 5f hcap (4) gs.
Wotashirtfull (IRE) 7-2fav (9-4) Made all, ridden clear over 1f out, pushed out final furlong, won at Newcastle 5f 3yo hcp (5) gs beating Kyzer Chief (8-9) by 1l, 8 ran.
Windjammer 6-1 (9-12) With leaders until no extra final furlong, 10th of 15, 8l behind Kings College Boy (8-10) at Carlisle 5f hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Mandurah (IRE) 13-2 (9-6) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 16, 3l behind Opal Noir (9-0) at Hamilton 6f hcap (5) gf.
Fast Freddie 15-2 (9-0) Prominent, weakened 2f out, 9th of 10, 22l behind Equuleus Pictor (8-11) at Yarmouth 5f hcap (5) sft in May.
Steel City Boy (IRE) 16-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, always towards rear, 11th of 14, 9l behind Bid For Gold (9-6) at Pontefract 6f hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
Never Without Me 25-1 (8-6) In touch, kept on final furlong, 6th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Namir (9-1) at Pontefract 5f hcp 0-75 (5) gd.