Tag Archive for: Ripon

Tix Picks, Saturday 28/09/24

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Saturday's UK placepots can be played via Tix at Chelmsford, Haydock, Market Rasen, Newmarket and Ripon.

But, what is Tix?

A video explainer can be found here.

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A few more pointers can be found in these articles:

https://www.geegeez.co.uk/exotic-betting-multi-race-bets-part-1/

https://www.geegeez.co.uk/exotic-betting-multi-race-bets-part-2/

Today's pools

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.

*

All of which gives me...

Leg 1: (2) Dothan, (3) I'm Next, (5) Leblon Girl & (8) Medinilla

Leg 2: (1) Blessed Star, (2) Captivate & (5) Law Degree

Leg 3: (5) Count D'Orsay, (6) High Opinion & (7) Another Baar

Leg 4: (4) Baldomero, (5) Dakota Gold & (8) Secret Guest for this one

Leg 5: (2) Run This Way, (5) White Umbrella & (6) Hurstwood

Leg 6: (2) Thornaby Pearl, (3) Stormy Pearl & (4) Havana Pursuit

...and here's how I'd play them, whilst trying to stay close to a nominal £20 total stake...

Good Luck!
Chris

Hollie Doyle within sight of 1,000 career winners

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Hollie Doyle is looking to follow up Bradsell’s stunning Nunthorpe success in the Flying Five at the Curragh, after moving tantalisingly close to 1,000 career winners with her 100th success of the year at Ripon.

Doyle rode Archie Watson’s Zayer (4-5 favourite) to victory in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes, blazing a trail and setting a new track record in the process.

“It’s good to get that done, especially for the team at Archie’s. He’s a really nice horse and we’ve always thought highly of him,” Doyle told Sky Sports Racing.

“The further he went the better, he’s quite unfurnished and weak still so he found the track quite challenging, but I think he’ll be a nice horse next year.”

The win moved Doyle to within three of 1,000 winners, just 11 years after her first in 2013, with almost 700 of those having come in the last five years.

“That was my target at the start of the year, to try to get to 1,000 international (career) winners,” she said.

“I’m not too far away so that will be good to get that done.”

Doyle’s smile lit up York last week when Bradsell scorched a trail in the Nunthorpe and she is hoping he can repeat the dose in the Flying Five at the Curragh on September 15.

Bradsell pulls clear to win the Nunthorpe
Bradsell pulls clear to win the Nunthorpe (Mike Egerton/PA)

“He seems absolutely fine since his run, you have to take every day as it comes with him, but he seems fine since York,” she said.

“All systems go for the Flying Five, hopefully. He showed so much natural speed and I think he’s getting better with age, which can be the case with sprinters.

“All being well it will be Ireland next, that’s what Archie mentioned.”

Soldier’s Heart leaves Ripon rivals trailing in his wake

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Soldier’s Heart put his course experience to good use when making all the running in the British Stallion Studs EBF Ripon Champion Two Yrs Old Trophy Stakes.

Simon and Ed Crisford stepped him back up to six furlongs to win at Ripon last time out, having been taken off his feet in the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood.

An easy winner of that conditions race, it certainly stood him in good stead in a competitive field of seven previous winners.

Harry Davies was able to grab the prime rail position from stall five and in truth the result never looked in any doubt.

Allowed an easy lead, he gradually wound up the pace and with a furlong to run, the race looked over as he held a four-length lead.

Benevento did best of the rest, closing to within two lengths, but he was no match for the 15-8 favourite, who will now step back up in class.

Soldier's Heart and Harry Davies return victorious
Soldier’s Heart and Harry Davies return victorious (Nick Robson/PA)

Richard Fahey’s Shadow Army, fourth in the Group One Phoenix Stakes last time out, finished tailed off as if something was amiss.

Davies said of the winner: “He’s come on again from his last run. He jumped great from the gates and he was more streetwise today, he was having a good look around the last day.

“Him being here before has obviously helped him out, some horses find it quite hard the first time but he has definitely come on and he handled the conditions great.

“He’s compact, he’s bred to be very fast and the step back up to six furlongs has definitely helped him. He was good today.

“He’s in the Mill Reef (Newbury, September 21) and the Middle Park (Newmarket, September 28) and those options are obviously open to him now. If he keeps going the way he is, we’ll be happy.

“At Goodwood in the Molecomb, he was pretty much run off his feet, it was the first time I rode him and obviously Goodwood is a very sharp five – when they get unbalanced coming down the hill, they never really have much of a chance, he only got going in the last furlong.

“We knew if we took him somewhere he’d be comfortable, he could get his head in front once again.”

Fahey dominates Great St Wilfrid as Dare To Hope delivers

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Dare To Hope led home stablemate Ramazan to provide Richard Fahey with a one-two in the William Hill Great St Wilfrid and give him a third winner of Ripon’s most valuable race of the season.

Fahey has tasted glory before with Baccarat (2013) and Don’t Touch (2015), who subsequently went on to land the Ayr Gold Cup, and the handler dominated the six-furlong sprint again inside the final furlong.

Top weight Ramazan ran his heart out once more and having been pipped in the Victoria Cup at Ascot earlier in the season, it is surely only a matter of time before he lands a deserved big pot.

But it was the 9-2 favourite Dare To Hope, unlucky in running at Goodwood when last seen, who was the better handicapped of the pair.

Not only was it two Fahey runners dominating the finish, both his jockeys were called Oisin, and it was stable number one Oisin Orr who came out on top by three-quarters of a length, with Oisin McSweeney having to settle for second.

Secret Guest was third, with Summerghand, twice placed in the race before, back in fourth.

Orr said: “I had a good draw and they weren’t going fast enough for him, the race kind of fell apart two and a half out, which really suited my horse and he galloped out well.

“I think he needs a good gallop to aim at, so I knew I was coming there with a chance, but when I looked up, I could see Richard’s other horse, so I thought I’d stay away from him.

“He ran well at Goodwood and he’s always worked really well. I imagine he’ll be aimed at some nice races now.”

Fahey’s assistant trainer Robin O’Ryan said: “I was cheering for them both because they both deserved it. Ramazan really deserves one, as he just got beat at Ascot earlier in the season.

“It’s lovely for all the owners of the winner, I couldn’t believe we were first and second – it was a great result.

“Ramazan must be a tough horse; over six or seven furlongs, he always runs his heart out and he’s probably Listed class.

“The winner is a lovely horse, we haven’t seen the best of him yet. I’m sure they’ll both be heading towards Ayr.”

Richard Fahey saddled the first two home
Richard Fahey saddled the first two home (Julian Herbert/PA)

Syndicate organiser John Wicks said of Dare To Hope: “I’ve run racehorse partnerships for Richard since 1999, many of these guys have been in virtually the whole time – and he’s the best we’ve had.

“I work very hard at it, I daren’t tell my wife how little I charge but it’s great to do it with a group of people. Look how happy they are! It’s a magic day.

“He’s had a bit of bad luck a few times, he’s that sort of horse. He comes from a little bit back and he doesn’t have a turn of foot, he just keeps going.

“He was blocked in the Sky Bet Dash at York and the Stewards’ Cup – Vincent Ho reckoned he’d have got third at Goodwood, even though he was drawn wrong.”

Simply no place quite like Ripon for Fortamour

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Fortamour registered his sixth success at Ripon when winning the Wilmot-Smith Memorial Handicap for a second time on Monday.

The North Yorkshire venue tends to lend itself to course specialists due to its unique ridges and Ben Haslam’s sprinter has well and truly found the knack.

Winner of the corresponding race in 2021 and second in it 12 months ago, his fortunes could not have differed more to last year’s winner Bay Breeze who was slowly away and never out of last place.

Ed Bethell’s three-year-old Kings Merchant tried to make all but the eight-year-old Fortamour prevailed by a neck at 11-2.

Haslam will now consider returning for the Great St Wilfrid later in the month, although he accepts that may represent a different challenge altogether.

Fortamour got the better of Kings Merchant
Fortamour got the better of Kings Merchant (PA)

“He loves it here. I just thought today on this ground he needed to be forward, as if you are behind the pace here when it’s quick it is very hard to make it up,” he said.

“Normally we tuck him and and take our time, but I was quite confident at halfway because he always keeps galloping.

“He’ll be out of the Great St Wilfrid consolation now as that is a 0-80 so our hand might be forced into the main race, he might as well, but I think it’s probably a bridge too far.”

Doom and gloom for favourite backers as 1-25 shot turned over

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William Haggas’ Doom became the shortest-priced loser since 1948 when beaten at 1-25 by Karmology in a two-runner race at Ripon.

Doom looked to have been found a great opening in the William Hill Ripon Champion Bonus 2023 Maiden Fillies’ Stakes, her fifth career outing after a juvenile season that saw her finish second to subsequent Oaks winner Soul Sister last autumn.

She had scared off all bar Karl Burke’s unraced Golden Horn filly Karmology, who was ridden by Pierre-Louis Jamin.

At the furlong marker of the one-mile affair victory seemed to be assured for Tom Marquand and Doom, but Karmology began to gain on her outside and streaked past her with half a furlong to run to cross the line a length ahead.

Doom now joins Royal Forest as the shortest-priced loser in British history, the latter being sent off at the same odds of 1-25 for Clarence House Stakes at Ascot in September 1948.

Burke told Sky Sports Racing: “She’s a nice filly but she’s a work in progress, very much one for next year over a longer trip.

“I really only entered her for the race because it was on our doorstep and there wasn’t many entries.

“I said to the owners there were no races over a mile and a quarter for her until the end of the month so we may as well run for the education.

“I think all the Newmarket trainers, apart from William, must have had a late night and never followed the (declaration) tracking so it worked out really well.”

Other prohibitively priced losers in recent years include Tree Of Liberty, beaten at 1-20 in a novice chase at Ludlow in 2018 and Broadspear, who was second at 1-16 at Chepstow last year.

Task Force stays unbeaten with Ripon feature triumph

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Task Force maintained his unbeaten record with a clear-cut victory in the British Stallion Studs EBF Ripon Champion Two Yrs Old Trophy.

A son of two Guineas winners in Frankel and Special Duty, the Ralph Beckett-trained colt made a big impression on his racecourse debut at Salisbury last month, earning him a step up to Listed class.

He was the 11-8 favourite to dispatch of five rivals in North Yorkshire and did so in fine style in the hands of Rossa Ryan.

In the famous Juddmonte silks, Task Force raced enthusiastically at the rear of the field for much of the six-furlong contest before being produced with his challenge widest of all.

He mastered Shagraan and course and distance winner Seven Questions, who was briefly stopped in his run when challenging between the pair, and was good value for the winning margin of a length and a quarter.

The winner’s stablemate Matters Most finished strongly to fill the runner-up spot and provide the in-form Beckett team with a one-two.

Juddmonte’s racing manager, Barry Mahon, said of the winner: “The idea of going to Ripon was to teach him a bit as he didn’t learn much the first day, he hit the gates well and sat handy and was left in front a furlong and a half down, so he probably didn’t learn a lot about racing.

“He’ll have learned plenty there today. You saw how green he was in the early part of there and when Rossa asked him to go he was green, but when the penny dropped away he went.

“It was a nice performance and he could a nice horse.”

Task Force has the option of stepping up to seven furlongs for the Group Two Champagne Stakes at Doncaster next month, but plans are fluid at this stage.

“I haven’t spoken to Ralph yet and we need to let the dust settle, but I’ve no doubt seven is going to be right up his street,” Mahon added.

“He’s bred to be a miler in time, so seven furlongs won’t be a problem, but whether Ralph decides to go that way now or later on we’ll wait and see.

“Part of the reason we went back over six furlongs today was because when you look up his mother’s record she never raced beyond six at two and ended up being a dual Guineas winner at three, so there’s no shortage of speed in the pedigree and he showed that today against some hardened two-year-olds.”

Sophia’s Starlight connections happy to see filly fulfilling her promise

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Sophia’s Starlight could be set for bigger and better objectives having continued her upwards curve when landing the William Hill Great St Wilfrid on Saturday.

Grant Tuer’s progressive filly has always been held in lofty regard by connections, but it has been during this season she has proven it on track, racking up five victories in nine starts and rising over 20lb in the handicap since shedding her maiden status at Wolverhampton in May.

Still heading in the right direction following her triumph under Sam James in the prestigious Ripon handicap, the daughter of Hunter’s Light does have the option of a quick return to action at York later this week, where she holds an entry for Thursday’s British EBF 40th Anniversary Fillies’ Handicap.

However, Nick Bradley, managing director of the syndicate that carries his name, envisages Sophia’s Starlight skipping that he eyes a busy autumn that will see the three-year-old stepping up in class to black-type contests.

He said: “She could go to York later this week, but looking at the weather forecast I don’t think she will.

“But she will have Group and Listed targets between now and the end of the year and she’s going to have a busy September and October.

“I thought something like the Challenge Stakes (Newmarket, October 13) could be a long-term aim and the five-and-a-half (furlong) fillies’ only Listed race at Ayr (Arran Scottish Sprint EBF Fillies’ Stakes, Sept 22) could be a target for her as well – it’s a race we won the other year with Dandalla.”

It may have taken Sophia’s Starlight slightly longer than connections imagined to reach the level at which she now operates, but credit has to be given to the perseverance of Tuer and his team following a frightening incident in the stalls during the early stages of her career.

“She’s a very smart filly and I remember this time last year standing at the Ebor thinking this thing is a certainty in a novice at Carlisle and then she went under the stalls,” continued Bradley.

“She went under the stalls and then every time she went in the stalls after that she was freaking out and starting her races with an incredibly high heart rate.

“Grant had said before then she was probably the best horse he’d ever trained and he’s now been proved right.

“She went off and did a lot of stalls work and now we’ve got to the stage where we can load her with a hood and she’s much more relaxed about it.

“I think she’s ground dependent a little bit so we went to Ripon and it was just what we needed, we were delighted.”

Sophia’s Starlight shines brightest in Great St Wilfrid

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Sophia’s Starlight rewarded the brave call of her connections to pitch her in against far more experienced rivals in the William Hill Great St Wilfrid at Ripon, gamely holding off the late run of favourite Summerghand.

Only a three-year-old, trainer Grant Tuer threw her in at the deep end against a host of seasoned handicappers, headed by an Ayr Gold Cup winner in Summerghand.

She had been in great form this season, winning three of her last six starts and rising to a rating of 89 for the Nick Bradley Racing Club.

Ridden by Sam James, with usual partner Ollie Stammers unable to make the weight of 8st 7lb, the 7-1 chance was in control with two furlongs to run, fully two lengths clear on the far side.

With the usually favoured stands side beaten off, it was David O’Meara’s veteran Summerghand, having his third run in the race, who burst out of the pack but failed to get there by a head. Wobwobwob was third, with Temple Bruer fourth.

“All credit to Grant and Nick, they took a chance running a three-year-old in this but she is improving,” said James.

“I always felt like I was going to win easy, she was just looking for company late on and Danny (Tudhope) nearly caught me which quite annoyed me, but she was just lugging off the rail.

“She’s improving all the time. She’s Ollie’s ride really, I’m sure he’ll be back on her as he’s done a great job.”

James went on: “I was confident the whole way, I always felt I had the far side beat, I was going a good gallop but I was in my comfort zone the whole way while I was taking others out of theirs, which is impressive for a three-year-old against older horses.

“Nick likes to take his horses to France and I would have thought they’ll be looking for black type.”

Bradley’s racing manager Ian Hutchinson said: “She’s in a seven-furlong handicap at York next week and we’ll see how she is before deciding if she goes there or not.”

The consolation William Hill Silver Trophy went the way of multiple course winner Roundhay Park (11-1).

Roundhay Park won the Silver Trophy
Roundhay Park won the Silver Trophy (Nick Robson/PA)

Nigel Tinkler’s eight-year-old was winning at Ripon for the third time and for jockey Faye McManoman it was their sixth victory together.

“This horse means a lot to me as I also won the Ayr Bronze Cup on him which was a huge day for his all,” she said.

“I was doing a rain dance last night and when it came I fancied our chances.”

Danny Tudhope won the the first two races on the card, the Juddmonte EBF Restricted Novice Stakes on Michael Bell’s 13-8 favourite Prepschool and the William Hill Ripon Hornblower EBF Novice Stakes on Eve Johnson Houghton’s Government Call at the same price.

Beasley back for more Great St Wilfrid success

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Connor Beasley is searching for a fourth win since 2016 when he takes the ride on Richard Fahey’s Monsieur Kodi in Ripon’s £100,000 William Hill Great St Wilfrid on Saturday

As well as his three victories, on Nameitwhatyoulike (2016), Dakota Gold (2019) and Intrinsic Bond last year, Beasley has also finished second and fourth in the intervening period so it is no surprise he has ended up on one of the favourites this time around.

Adding to his quirky record in what is one of the most competitive sprint handicaps of the season is that all his victories have been for different trainers in Bryan Smart, Michael Dods and Tracy Waggott respectively so the fact this year he rides for Fahey bodes well for those who like coincidences.

Monsieur Kodi arrives in great form having won the Stewards’ Cup consolation race at Goodwood and with rain forecast overnight his draw in stall two might not be the worst place to be.

Monsieur Kodi was a comfortable winner of the Stewards' Cup consolation race at Goodwood
Monsieur Kodi was a comfortable winner of the Stewards’ Cup consolation race at Goodwood (Andrew Matthews/PA)

“I’ve won it a few times and been placed a couple of times so it’s been a good race to me,” said Beasley.

“Obviously I’ve been fortunate to be on the right horse but I’m looking forward to it again.

“I don’t ride that often for Richard Fahey but I have had a few winners for him and the horse is obviously in good form having won the Stewards’ Cup consolation at Goodwood.

“When I got the phone call to ask if I was available to ride him I was very pleased.

“We’re drawn low and that can sometimes help on soft ground. Obviously it was heavy at Goodwood when he won last time so the more rain the better for him.

“While it might not be ideal being drawn across there, there’s no sort of bias as such. It’s a fairytale if you get drawn on the stands rail but he’s got plenty of pace and if a few come my way hopefully he runs a good race.”

Summerghand has ben a real moneyspinner for connections
Summerghand has been a real moneyspinner for connections (Mike Egerton/PA)

David O’Meara is the most successful trainer in the race in modern times with three victories to his name courtesy of dual winner Pepper Lane (2011 and 2012) and Out Do (2014) and this year he relies on Summerghand.

The veteran nine-year-old was second to Dakota Gold in 2019 and finished fourth last season off a mark of 98 before going on to win at York’s Ebor meeting and the Ayr Gold Cup. He is rated 1lb lower this year.

He was due to run in the Stewards’ Cup, which took place in a deluge, but was withdrawn at the start.

“He obviously played up in the stalls at Goodwood and he’s had a stalls test since. He’s in good form and we’re looking forward to running him. He’s been a brilliant horse,” said O’Meara.

Live In The Moment sports a visor for the first time and has the assistance of promising apprentice Mia Nicholls for Alice Haynes.

“There’s a big one in him one day and he’s in great order,” said Haynes.

“Confidence-wise, the apprentice (Shariq Mohd) did exactly what I asked him to do at Goodwood (behind Monsieur Kodi, fourth) and went up that left-hand side, and maybe in the horse’s head he might think he has won, if that makes sense.

“He’s relatively well drawn (13) and we’re claiming off him again. I think he runs well for apprentices as he can half ride a race himself without a jockey interfering.

“He’s in good order and I look forward to going there on Saturday.”

Lakota Blue is drawn next to Monsieur Kodi in stall one but his trainer Nigel Tinkler explained the famous Ripon ridges are not as severe on that side of the track.

“Ripon has undulations but he’s drawn on the far side in one and the undulations aren’t actually quite as bad over there as they are on the stands side,” he told Sky Sports Racing.

“He got a bit checked in running at Goodwood otherwise he might nearly have won. He must have a good chance, he’s got the three-year-old allowance so we’re hoping for a good run.”