Tim Easterby landed his second Listed race in a matter of days when Anaisa shocked her rivals in the British Stallion Studs EBF Ripon Champion Two Yrs Old Trophy Stakes.
The lowest-rated runner in the seven-strong field, the teak-tough Ardad filly had only run in a valuable sales race at Newmarket on Saturday.
Sent off a 12-1 chance, David Allan could be spotted travelling noticeably well two furlongs out and it was a matter of if the split would come in time.
When it did, Anaisa was good enough to take advantage, beating another of the outsiders, Awraad by half a length.
The betting suggested it would be a shootout between George Boughey’s Amorim, who clearly did not act on the track, and Simon and Ed Crisford’s Al Shaham, a dual course and distance winner who surprisingly was beaten a long way out.
Easterby had struck at York at the weekend, in the Julia Graves Roses Stakes with Revival Power, but was winning this contest for the first time since 2004 with Space Shuttle.
Easterby said: “She’s so tough. She ran in the sales race the other day but she was drawn one so she had no chance.
“She ended up running a blinder to finish sixth. I was a little worried about running her again, but we’d already declared her and I bred her so I was keen to try to get some black type as her half-brother is in the sales at Newmarket – he’s really nice, he’s by Mattmu.
“She ended up winning it quite nicely. Dave said they went really hard so he just sat in and filled her with confidence.
“I still have the mare, but I was too tight to put her in the Redcar Two-Year-Old Trophy!”
The course enclosure was packed to the rafters (Nick Robson/PA)
While still falling some way short of the 10,000 plus who attended the Great St Wilfrid card nine days ago, a healthy crowd of over 7,000 were present on a sunny Bank Holiday Monday at the Garden Racecourse.
However, as a healthy percentage of those were for the course enclosure in the middle, traffic tailbacks in both directions were up to an hour long. Jockey Shane Gray missed a ride in the circumstances, while others had to jump out of their car and run the last bit to the track.
With three races still to go, the course announcer advised that it would take longer than normal to leave the course.
“We don’t have an exact crowd figure yet, but we’re looking at over 7,000. We’d usually get the upper end of 5,000,” said clerk of the course Jon Mullin.
“What has obviously helped is the weather forecast, it’s not a surprise and for once people have been able to plan accordingly.
“Because of that it obviously took people longer to get into the course, which is unfortunate, and what we couldn’t do anything about was we had a car breakdown early in the day.
“Even without that it would have been busy getting in, but that obviously compounded matters.
“I’ve never seen the course enclosure as busy as it is today in my years here, but when the weather is like this it’s a great place to take a picnic and sit in the sun.”
Mullin added: “It has been an eventful day all told, we’ve had two cardiac incidents before racing, the air ambulance came but it was decided against using it, as well as other medical incidents for the doctor to deal with throughout the day.”
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Intervention landed the William Hill/MND Association Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon for Mick Appleby and The Horse Watchers syndicate.
The eight-year-old – having the 106th start of his career and had just one prior turf success to his name from 38 tries – burst clear under rising star apprentice jockey William Pyle two furlongs out for a clear-cut success.
The 16-1 chance finished a long way clear on his own on the far side, with Kodiac Thriller doing best of the rest a length and a quarter away on the near side. First Folio was third, with Alzahir fourth.
Appleby had entered the classy Annaf who was due to carry top-weight, but when the declarations came through on Thursday Intervention was his sole representative.
Brothers Chris and Martin Dixon formed The Horse Watchers with former Timeform colleague Matthew Taylor and the syndicate is going from strength to strength.
“It is very rare these days for us both to be racing at the same course, especially on a Saturday, but it was no big plan, the truth is we took the kids to Lightwater Valley (theme park) and have dropped in on the way home, we got here with 10 minutes to spare,” said Chris Dixon.
“To be fair Martin did say to me yesterday he thought we had a chance so we were planning a way we could get here and doing that was the best way to do it!
“It was one of those where you would have been thinking of the consolation race for him, but that isn’t there anymore it’s just a normal 0-80 handicap and he’s rated 83 so didn’t get in.
“We were looking at the entries and it looked like he’d get in so Martin said straight away ‘let’s book a top apprentice to take a few pounds off’ so we got William booked straight away and he moved a day of a ban so he could ride.”
He added: “If there was ever a grand plan for this horse it was to try to get him to win his 100th race and he was second at Brighton!”
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City Walk will try to give trainer Saeed bin Suroor a first success in the William Hill/MND Association Great St Wilfrid at Ripon.
The £100,000 handicap has surprisingly not attracted a full field of 20 this season, with only 17 going to post.
As ever with big sprint handicaps, the draw could prove crucial and City Walk will be in stall three, which in the past would have been seen as a negative but two of the last three winners have come from a single-figure draw.
Saeed bin Suroor will saddle City Walk (Joe Giddens/PA)
City Walk is relatively lightly for raced for an eight-year-old sprinter, but that is because prior to his run at Newcastle in June, he had the best part of two years off.
“He had been off a long time and he was too fresh, but he did show speed, which he always has,” said Bin Suroor.
“He worked nicely the other day and I hope he runs well. I know it’s a big field but if the track suits him, he’s in good form so I’m looking for a good result.
“He’s run at Ripon before but we are happy to forget it as he missed the break and got a bump.
“He’s a good horse, on some of his form he should have a very good chance.”
Rousing Encore is among the favourites (Danny Lawson/PA)
Richard Fahey’s Rock Opera and Ruth Carr’s Rousing Encore are amongst the favourites for the race, with long-standing Great St Wilfrid sponsors William Hill donating all profits from the contest to the MND Association, which will receive at least £30,000.
Both were narrowly denied by William Haggas’ progressive operator Elmonjed at York last time, with Rock Opera in third on the Knavesmire, just a short head in front of Rousing Encore in fourth.
Bryan Smart’s Secret Guest was third in the race last year and returns off just a 3lb higher mark after going close at Thirsk last month, with Jim Goldie’s Abduction also arriving in peak condition after a recent win at Chester.
“It’s been the plan for a bit. He won over seven and a bit last time out but he’s plenty of winning form at six,” said Goldie,
“The Great St Wilfrid can often be decided by the draw and we’re in the middle, you just need to get near the right horses. Who knows where you’ll need to be, look at the sprints at Goodwood, one day you wanted to be near side and the next far side. I think it’s to do with the pace.
“I’ve never really had much luck at Ripon, so it’s about time it changed.”
This will be the 31st year that William Hill have sponsored the Great St Wilfrid and their charitable link with the MND association which will be visible throughout the card.
Ben Wright, director of ESG and sustainability for William Hill, said: “We are excited to be teaming up with the MND Association this Saturday for a special raceday at Ripon.
“As one of the longest standing sponsorships in racing, Great St Wilfrid day at Ripon is always significant for William Hill, and this year holds an extra importance with all profits on the big race going to the MND Association.
“To further mark the occasion and highlight the legacy of Rob Burrow, we’ve created a bespoke saddlecloth for number seven in the field.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2.67577913.jpg8311662Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2025-08-15 12:08:342025-08-15 12:08:34City Walk targeting Great St Wilfrid honours
Fresh from Group One glory in France on Sunday with Fallen Angel, Danny Tudhope was in double form at Ripon on Monday from just three rides.
His old ally David O’Meara provided both and in Goyard, winner of the ripon-races.co.uk Book Now For Saturday August 16th Novice Stakes, they may have an above-average recruit for his part-owner, Brighton footballer Giorgino Rutter.
A six-and-a-half-length winner on soft ground over six furlongs at Ripon last time out, he dropped to the minimum trip with aplomb, defeating another previous winner in Right And Exact by a cosy half-length.
“Obviously he was back in trip today and he was certainly sharp enough,” said Tudhope of the 1-3 favourite.
“We were drawn wide, but he was quick enough to get across and get the rail.
“He’s a big, gross horse and there should be more to come. Today he was more lively, but he had to be over this trip.
“He’s a grand horse going forward. Whatever he does he’s going to get better and there should be more to come.”
O’Meara’s Tiva (13-8 favourite) then had very little bother in winning the Weatherbys Bloodstock Pro Fillies’ Handicap.
Reflecting on his first top-level success since winning the Irish 1000 Guineas on the same filly last May, Tudhope said: “It was a brilliant day and great to get back on her.
“To go and do what she did again yesterday was unbelievable and she’s now a Group One winner at two, three and four which is a great achievement.
“I think she’s going for the Matron Stakes next.”
Another nice winner on the card was Simon and Ed Crisford’s Dandana, who defied market weakness to claim the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes.
With Karl Burke’s Pearl Fortune the 5-4 favourite and plenty of support for Tudhope’s mount Rogue Temptation, Dandana was sent off at 3-1 despite winning her debut impressively.
The three came well clear and it was Harry Davies’ mount who took the spoils by half a length. The other pair dead-heated for second.
Davies said: “She’s a nice filly. We’ve always liked her. She’s a bit quirky, she probably wasn’t in love with this track but she’s got through it and she’s won with a penalty.
“She’s had to be tough. From the two-furlong pole it’s slightly downhill and I think she was probably always doing enough, every time they came to her she went on. She could be all right.
“The rail definitely helps on a green filly. I’m not sure we’ll bring her here again, though.
“With racing she’ll come forward. She’s pretty quirky but I’m sure she’d be fine stepping up in grade, she possibly could be a stakes filly as she was quietly impressive there.”
Tim Easterby’s Mister Sox (6-1) came with a well-timed ride under Sean Kirrane to win the feature Wilmot-Smith Memorial Handicap.
“He’s a lovely horse and he likes it here. He’s been great for us and is just improving with age,” said Easterby of the five-year-old.
“He’s by Pivotal and they take longer to reach their peak.”
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Today's UK meetings, pools and minimum guarantees are as follows...
I've chosen to cover the meeting at Ripon today, where the ground is going to be heavy for our six races, starting with...
Leg 1 : 1.35 Ripon, a 9-runner, Class 5, 2yo maiden over 6f...
Leblon Girl outran her 22/1 odds to finish second of six on debut at Nottingham last month, beaten only by a 1/8 fav, whilst I'm Next was third of nine over 5f at Beverley after a 149-day lay-off.
Dothan was well fancied at Chester on debut, but was a bit green and didn't get going for a while. He seemed to have plenty in the tank late on, though, so he could go well here, as could Medinilla who ran better than 6th of 12 might suggest. She was denied a clear run and had to be switched out inside the final furlong, but did rally to stay on having lost ground. She drops in class here and her jockey is in good nick right now...
...whilst Leblon Girl's jockey has a good record here at Chester...
...and if she's quick away again like last time out, she might not be easy to catch this time.
Safety-first approach for the opener as (2) Dothan, (3) I'm Next, (5) Leblon Girl and (8) Medinilla will all be on my bet builder.
Leg 2 : 2.10 Ripon, a 6-runner, Class 5, 2yo nursery over 1m...
Blessed Star has been knocking on the door with three successive runner-up finishes and she now drops two classes, which might just be enough to get her off the mark. Law Degree was third last time out and has already won on soft ground. Captivate has shaped like needing further than 7f in her three average runs to date, which have 'earned' her a low opening mark of 73, whilst Greek Gift has won two of her last six and has a win and two places from her last four. She was disappointing on the A/W last time out and although second of eight on soft ground at Carlisle a moth ago, would probably want it quicker here.
I can't take all four mentioned from a 6-horse field, but don't want to crash and burn before the 3yo+ handicaps, so I'll semi-reluctantly omit Greek Gift and go with (1) Blessed Star, (2) Captivate & (5) Law Degree
Leg 3 : 2.45 Ripon, an 11-runner, Class 4, 3yo+ handicap over 5f...
Our Absent Friends has a win and four places from his last six runs, Count D'Orsay has won two from five and has a 44% place strike rate on soft/heavy ground. High Opinion has been running consistently well for some time now, making the frame in 9 of his last 12, winning four times including here over course and distance last time out. Faro De San Juan and Another Baar both won four starts ago, but it's the first-named trio that set the standard on recent form, although Another Baar has gone well on soft/heavy ground and clearly likes it here at Ripon...
...and even if his best form is over 6f, I think he might be worth taking with the two LTO winners in the field, so that's (5) Count D'Orsay, (6) High Opinion & (7) Another Baar here
Leg 4 : 3.20 Ripon, a 12-runner, Class 2, 3yo+ handicap over 6f...
Baldomero was a fairly convincing Class 2 winner on soft ground a fortnight ago, making all to win by more than two lengths with the re-opposing Tacarib Bay back in sixth, some 5.5 lengths off the pace. Tacarib Bay is no mug, though, as he entered that race off the back of two narrow runner-up defeats in this grade, which suggest he could go well here too.
Secret Guest has made the frame in four of his last five, including a good third of eighteen in the Great St Wilfrid over this course and distance last time out and based on consistency it would be foolish to write the 10yr old Dakota Gold off. His last two runs haven't been he best, but he won over 6f on soft ground at Redcar in late-May and followed that up by being second over this course and distance and Instant Expert shows his ability to make the frame under today's conditions...
...and as he also heads the pace chart...
...he's hard to ignore, so I'll be taking him with Baldomero and I just need to choose between Secret Guest and Tacarib Bay and I think on recent form, I've a slight leaning toward the former, giving me (4) Baldomero, (5) Dakota Gold & (8) Secret Guest for this one
Leg 5 : 4.00 Ripon, a 9-runner, Class 6, 3yo+ handicap over 6f...
My initial shortlist here was Run This Way, Music Society, White Umbrella and Hurstwood. Run This Way landed a hat-trick of wins in the summer including two over course and distance and was only narrowly beaten on heavy ground at Carlisle last time out and drops down a class here as does Music Society, who despite finding wins hard to come by of late was only beaten by a head at Ayr nine days ago, so could be in the mix again here.
White Umbrella also drops in class and has ran better in her last two races than 6th of 9 and then 6th of 11 might suggest. She was beaten by just over two lengths at Hamilton earlier this month and then by less than two lengths at Chester last time out despite being drawn 11 of 11, hardly ideal! Hurstwood doesn't drop in class, but does come here off the back of a win at Redcar and he has made the frame in three of his last six outings.
From the win stats on Instant Expert, Run This Way is the clear standout with Hurstwood probably next best...
...whilst Run This Way is also the pick on pace...
...and as I'm not convinced that Music Society will go well twice in a row (LTO was his first placed finish in 16 starts), I'm going with (2) Run This Way, (5) White Umbrella & (6) Hurstwood here.
Leg 6 : 4.40 Ripon, a 9-runner, Class 6, 3yo+ handicap over 6f...
This looks effectively like a two-horse race between former course and distance winner Thornaby Pearl, who was only beaten by three quarters of a length on heavy ground at Chester last time out and Hamilton runner-up Havana Pursuit, who looks the pick of the Tim Easterby-trained trio in this contest.
Both of these runners are below their last winning mark and I'd be surprised if they did provide us with a winner and a placer today. Elsewhere Stormy Pearl has a good place record under today's conditions according to Instant Expert...
...whilst LTO runner-up and botoom weight Mr Trevor has a shout based on his fondness for front-running...
...and although ignoring his early pace might bite me on the backside, I'm going with (2) Thornaby Pearl, (3) Stormy Pearl & (4) Havana Pursuit for the finale.
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