Racecards
16:00 Ripon
Total Butler Handicap (Class 4)
- 4 Runners
- Distance: 1m 4f 10y
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
Merveilles
19- Form 14-30
- Age 3
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer J & T Gosden
- Jockey R Havlin
held up, headway over 2f out, driven over 1f out, no extra final furlong
- Form 442
- Age 3
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey R Ffrench
in touch and led after 1f, quickened pace 4f out, headed over 2f out, rallied to regain lead over 1f out, ran on final furlong
Markington
16- Form 7-24453
- Age 3
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer J D Bethell
- Jockey Graham Gibbons
led, headed after 1f, remained in touch, ridden to lead over1f out, no extra inside final furlong
- Form 8-74
- Age 3
- Weight 8-3
- Official Rating 67
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey N Mackay
tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, driven 2f out, stayed on towards finish
In depth
Verdict
Mark Johnston has a pretty good record with his runners first time in a handicap so Scotland Yard and Baltic Princess have to be respected but the vote goes to Merveilles in the belief that he is better than he showed at Epsom last time. John Gosden's colt had run encouragingly on his reappearance at Yarmouth before disappointing at Epsom last time and it is to be hoped that he can put that effort behind him here. Markington ran with credit behind Moon On A Spoon here over 1m2f and may do better stepped up in trip but he is far from certain to stay this far. Neither Scotland Yard nor Baltic Princess looks to be particularly well treated on maiden form for their first outings in this grade and a better bet looks to be Merveilles.
Formwatch
Merveilles 17-2 (8-13) Held up in rear, ridden and 13th straight, never a factor, 11th of 15, 8l behind Stage Gift (9-7) at Epsom 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf.
Scotland Yard (UAE) 7-4jt-fav (8-12) Tracked leaders, kept on to chase winner 1f out, ran on, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Oscillator (8-12) at W'hampton 1m 1f mdn stk (5) pol in Apr.
Markington 10-1 (8-13) Towards rear, headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 13, 2l behind Moon On A Spoon (8-12) at Ripon 1m 2f 3yo hcp (4) gf.
Baltic Princess (FR) 20-1 (8-7) Led, ridden when hung left and headed over 2f out, one pace, 4th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Kassiopeia (8-12) at Haydock 1m 4f 3yo mdn (5) gd in Apr.