With a tremendous 44% strike rate (4-9) at Ripon this season, jockey Danny Tudhope will be confident of adding to his impressive tally at the North Yorkshire venue with three strong chances on Monday evening. Our expert editor has assessed each of the trio below, alongside an exclusive promotion courtesy of bet365, which is offering £50 In Free Bets to new customers, when you sign-up and bet £10.
Not For Profit (18:15 Ripon, British Stallion Studs EBF Restricted Novice Stakes)
The rider will be confident of getting off to the best possible start as he partners David O’Meara’s NOT FOR PROFIT in Ripon’s second race on Monday evening.
The son of Profitable made a quiet introduction when finishing last of six on his debut at Yarmouth back in May but certainly took a sizeable step forward on his second racecourse outing the following month, making all of the running in decent style under jockey David Nolan to land a Hamilton novice by a comfortable 1½ lengths.
Unable to get competitive in the Class 2 Super Sprint at Newbury last time out, Not For Profit will be expected to return to winning ways as he reverts back to novice company on Monday evening and although he has to concede weight to a few interesting rivals, David O’Meara’s sprinter should be up to the task and a second career victory looks very much on the cards.
King Eagle (19:45 Ripon, Ripon Races Directors Cup Handicap)
Trainer Michael Bell travels all the way up to Ripon from his Newmarket base with just the sole runner in KING EAGLE, who makes his handicap debut off a mark of 76 with Danny Tudhope on board for the first time.
Disappointing in his opening two starts in maiden company at Nottingham and Pontefract, the well-bred son of Frankel ran his best race to date over ten furlongs at Chelmsford following wind surgery last month. Fifth on that particular occasion, Michael Bell’s charge was certainly not knocked about in the closing stages and was beaten just three lengths at the line.
Closely related to Michael Bell’s former Park Hill Stakes winner The Lark, King Eagle should relish stepping up in distance on Monday evening and it wouldn’t be a total surprise to see the lightly-raced colt blow apart his opening mark given his stout pedigree.
Head Chef (20:20 Ripon, Goodbyeflys Ripon Racecourse Stable Staff Championships Handicap)
Danny Tudhope’s final ride comes in Ripon’s concluding contest as he returns to the saddle to partner previous course and distance winner HEAD CHEF.
Despite getting the job done by a neck in a first-time visor over track and trip in June, Head Chef has certainly struggled for consistency in his subsequent outings. A creditable third at Hamilton just three starts ago, David O’Meara’s three-year-old ran some way below his best on his penultimate start when trailing home in eighth on his return to Ripon last month. Fifth on his latest start over ten furlongs at Redcar, Head Chef didn’t seem to improve for the step up in trip that day and connections have wisely decided to revert back to a mile with the gelded son of Awtaad.
Rated 70, David O’Meara’s charge now finds himself 1lb lower than his last winning mark and although Head Chef hasn’t looked like bouncing back to winning form in his recent starts, the three-year-old could be sharpened up by the fitting of first-time blinkers on Monday evening and he is certainly not one to write off in a trappy five-runner contest.
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