There’s a hugely competitive renewal of the Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon on Saturday afternoon and our in-house tipster Steve Chambers previews the big race here. Check out his thoughts and see who he is backing for the 6f handicap…
SUMMERGHAND
(Jason Watson/David O’Meara)
Legendary sprint handicapper Summerghand continues to run to a high level despite being ten years old now and having finished second in this race 12 months the David O’Meara-trained veteran will look to go one better this season. Now rated 8lbs lower than last year’s mark, he takes his chance off 89, which is his lowest mark for a long time, but he has been out of the frame on his last two starts at Ascot and Goodwood, but this is arguably easier.
KITAI
(Joanna Mason/Mick Appleby)
A shock 16/1 winner of a competitive Goodwood handicap last month, Kitai will look to land another valuable prize this weekend for Mick Appleby and Joanna Mason. A short head winner that day, she’s been given a 3lbs rise by the handicapper, but the daughter of No Nay Never could possibly improve again and a repeat of that Goodwood run should see her play a notable role.
MANILA SCOUSE
(David Allan/Tim Easterby)
Tim Easterby’s Manila Scouse was an impressive winner at Chepstow in the Racing League last week and the five-year-old is another aiming to land two wins on the bounce. Handed a whopping 7lbs rise for that success the classy sprinter will need to improve and in what is a hugely competitive event looks to be up against it here.
RAMAZAN
(Oisin McSweeney/Richard Fahey)
Runner-up in the Victoria Cup at Ascot earlier in the season, Ramazan has shown he excels in big-field handicaps and Richard Fahey’s charge will be looking to defy top weight in this event. Eighth in the Stewards’ Cup on his last outing, the four-year-old has been dropped 2lbs by the handicap and with Oisin McSweeney taking another 3lbs off his back then he is weighted to run a huge race despite having to give weight away to his rivals.
THE FIELD
Behind Manila Scouse at Chepstow last time out, Radio Goo Goo will be looking to reverse that form here and looks capable of that now better off at the weights, while Dare To Hope was tenth in the Stewards’ Cup last time out and that’s excellent form, so is another that has to be respected. Monsieur Kodi was last seen finishing fifth at Newcastle and adds more strength to the Fahey team, while the likes of Wobwobwob, Mr Wagyu and Ingra Tor are just another eye-catching triumvirate set to take their chance in the betting race of the weekend.
VERDICT
A devilishly difficult punting race, but it’s RAMAZAN that can defy top weight in this contest, as he wasn’t disgraced in the Stewards’ Cup and a drop in the handicap should give him a huge chance here. Radio Goo Goo can turn the form around with Manila Scouse and can chase home Ramazan, while the veteran Summerghand can storm home to finish third.
2024 Great St Wilfrid Handicap Predicted 1-2-3
- Ramazan
- Radio Goo Goo
- Summerghand
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