Ripon 3.25 + Cork 5.30

 

This race can be dictated by the draw but looking back it seems to favour High and Low in pretty equal measure, and not necessarily Going dependent.

 

There is some rain forecast overnight, I'm minded to go for horses likely to best handle Good with a touch of Soft as opposed to those who need to hear their feet rattling.

 

A rail here (high or low) can be a big help but horses can win from just off the pace but getting too far back is not a wise tactic.

 

I narrowed it down to 5 and the ones reluctantly discarded are Kimifive, desperately unlucky last time out, I just have a hunch everything was at peak that day, Motagally, who looks to have been placed here in a possibly perfect draw but I see no value in the price and this is not a race usually for this type of possibly progressive dark horse. The final one for the cutting room floor was Dakota Gold, winner last year, been out of form but no doubt prepared for this, Course undulations mean proven Course for a big asset and if either of the selections was a non runner, would be the reserve pick and one for a Tricast Perm.

 

My 2 picks are a couple of the Tim Easterby runners, in particular HYPERFOCUS who has Course and Distance form will love any rain, the more the better, a lowish draw in Stall 5 and low can be boosted sometimes in soft, Rachel Richardson rides and is a very capable jockey. David Allen prefers GOLDEN APOLLO possibly, he can do 8 stone 5lbs at a push but the extra 5lbs his mount carries may have been a big factor. Drawn in stall 18, I also have options on either side, always wise here.