Hi all,
Although I was happy with the 13/2 about Savvy Victory. I thought we were unlucky not to have two winners on Sunday.
I normally leave the August Bank Holiday Monday racing alone as its no longer on TV. However, I have had a look at the afternoon’s action, and I have several fancies. Starting at today’s feature meeting at Ripon.
Ripon
3:08 – Ripon Rowels Handicap (Class 2) – 1m
A short head separated Dutch Decoy and Bashosh when the pair were first and second at Newmarket 17-days ago. The latter gets 1lb here and looks more than capable of winning off his present mark. However, Dutch Decoy is in the form of life and should be competitive once more. Given the pair’s respective prices at the time of writing he’s my preference of the pair. Neither of them has run at Ripon before so it would be unwise to rule out course specialist Garden Oasis who made it 4-11 + 21 8 placed over C&D when successful here 16-days ago. He’s been nudged 3lb for that win, a race he won last years before going onto win this, but he’s still 5lb below last year’s winning mark.
Epsom
3:15 – Bowman got a good front running ride to win a valuable C&D handicap on Oaks Day and he wasn’t disgraced off today’s mark when neck 2nd of 6 here over 6f on his next start. Hasn’t been at the same level of form on two subsequent starts but a return to Epsom can hopefully see a return to form by the 4-year-old who has a handy low draw in stall 2.
3:50 – A chance is taken with last year’s winner Captain Haddock who comfortably saw off six rivals to land this 12 months ago and is 3lb lower this time around. Granted he’s been out of form on his last three starts but would go close if reproducing neck 2nd of 13 to Haizoom at Hamilton in May. Yard is also in decent form with 3 winners from 11 runners (27%) in the past 14-days.
John Quinn won this in 2016 and he saddles Magna Moralia but you would think would need the rain to arrive, as his best form has come on good to soft or softer ground. Mascat is a very in and out performer, but he was in good form in the spring when a head 2nd of 9 over C&D in April, off today’s mark and ran just as well when a 5 ¾ length 3rd of 16 to Juan De Montalban in arguably a deeper race at Ascot the following month. He looks on winnable enough mark and the first time cheekpieces are an interesting addition.
Cartmel
3:24 – A competitive handicap chase and you can make claims for six of the seven runners. Jerrysback has looked a rejuvenated horse since the switch to Ben Haslam. Winning here two starts back and then going onto land the valuable Summer Cup (Handicap) at Uttoxeter last time. He took a 10lb hike in the weights for that success, but he remains on a competitive mark based on his best form for previous trainer Phillip Hobbs. All About Joe fourteen race maiden over hurdles made a winning debut over fences here (2m 5f) in June and showed his liking for the course once more when running Rapid Flight to ½ length in match over C&D last time.
Trainer James Moffett and jockey Charlotte Jones teamed up to win this with Dressedforsuccess 12 months ago but this year the jockey opts for Rapid Flight and you can see why. The 6-year-old has been in great form at the track this season with form figures 12111 with the latter three wins coming over C&D. This is a deeper race, but another big performance is expected. I wouldn’t rule out last year’s winner. The 9-year-old made it 4-4 over C&D when winning in May and is just 1lb higher here. Not as good a jumper as his stablemate as he showed when unseating over hurdles last time. Not weighted out of this with Sam Twiston-Davies taking the ride.
Betting Advice:
Ripon
3:08 – 1pt win – Dutch Decoy – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and 1pt win – Garden Oasis – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Epsom
3:15 – 1pt win – Bowman – 10/1 @ Bet365 and Captain Haddock – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:45 – 1pt win – Mascat – 7/1 @ Bet365
Cartmel
3:24 – 1pt win – Dressedforsuccess – 13/2 @ Bet365 and 1pt win – All About Joe – 10/1 @ Bet365
Cheers
John