Horseracing Selections - Ripon, 22 July 2006
Ripon, 22 July 2006
2:20 E.b.f. Dobsons Gaskets Maiden Fillies'
Abbey Road has been found a good opportunity to open her account. Durova and Sister Etienne are forwarded as the main dangers from the rest. Sister Etienne improved from her debut to finish a good third here earlier in the month. This daughter of Lend A Hand can make the rest aware of her presence. Durova missed that race to take her chance in a better race at Chester last week. She was far from disgraced in defeat and looks capable of exploiting any holes in the selection's game plan. However, Abbey Road edges preference on this occasion. Her debut run was given a solid boost at Lingfield on Thursday and, as she holds an entry in an Irish Group 1, she may well prove to be a step ahead of this lot; even though the daughter of Danehill does need to find more improvement though and needs to go a long way to start justifying her $210,000 purchase price.
2:50 Mary Kay Shaw Birthday Celebration Selling Stakes
Dotty's Daughter is selected ahead of Loch Clutha and Poinaird. The last named can be forgiven his latest effort as he lost his action after meeting trouble in running on a couple of occasions. David Barker's charge may prove to be a lot better than his finishing position would have you believe and any market confidence will be dangerous to ignore. Loch Clutha created the impression that she is ready for a step up in trip during her last start and she may well improve for this first try over six furlongs. Her yard does well in races of this nature and it would not be surprising to see her make the frame. However, Dotty's Daughter sets the standard from what they have shown so far and, as this lacks strength in depth, Anne Duffield's filly is fancied to be hard to beat here.
3:20 Bishopton Handicap
No comment available.
3:55 Ripon Bell-ringer Handicap
Nero's Return is better than recent form figures would have us believe and he is selected ahead of the revitalised Our Teddy and Top Seed, while Lucayan Dancer has a habit of popping up in races like this and is worth considering for each-way punters. The last named does have to register a career best performance and needs everything to fall into place for him. Top Seed, like many of his stablemates, has been kept on the go lately and has paid his way in win and place money. However, he also gets little respite from the handicapper and has it to prove off top weight. In handicapping terms, not many horses have plummeted as far in the rating as Our Teddy, who was running off a mark of 104 three years ago. Now on a rating of 80, the Paul Blockley-trained gelding has been in solid form of late and has to be respected in his current frame of mind. However, Nero's Return has also been given a chance by the assessor and, as he tales a drop in grade today, Mark Johnstone's charge looks to represent the best value in Ripon's feature race of the day.
4:30 Kevin Kai Lowery Memorial Maiden Handicap
A nightmare of a race and only a tentative vote of confidence is put behind Ekhorn, while Josarty and Mostanad are respected with their claims. And it would come as no surprise to also see Best Double make a bold bid to overcome the burden of top weight. The last named does look a touch high in the ratings for what he has actually achieved and, as a long standing maiden, there have to be reservations voiced about his resolution in a finish. Similar comments apply to Mostanad and he needs everything to fall into place for him. Josarty has fared better since he stepped into handicap company and may have more improvement to come. The undulations of this course should not be a problem for John Quinn's charge and he rates as fair value for at least a place. However, the finger has to pinpoint something more solid and Ekhorn, who has solid claims in the context of this race. Ekhorn has shown much improved form since being dropped back to sprinting and, having gone close in a better race than this at Hamilton last time; this could finally be the day for Julie Camacho's charge to deliver the goods.
5:05 Birchall Catering Supplies Median Auction Maiden Stakes
Giverny Spring is the leading player in a weak finale, with the lightly raced pair Chrisjen and Lady's Law others that are respected as likely improvers. Lady's Law made some late headway on her debut and ran encouragingly enough to suggest that a mile will not be a problem for her. She does need to post a better effort though and may be best watched for win only purposes in a field of this size. Chrisjen was another that took her time to get going on her introduction and will have benefited from the experience. This does look slightly tougher though and she needs to step things up a gear to get off the mark. Therefore, it may best to stick with experience on this occasion and give Giverny Spring another throw of the dice. Especially as her yard have been in much better form of late.
