TRACKFACTS

A right-handed oval track, one mile five furlongs in extent, which joins the straight course five furlongs from the finish. The undulations in the straight do not favour big galloping types.

Top Course Trainers

TOP COURSE TRAINERS

LEADING TRAINERS AT RIPON (2018-2023)

WITH RUNNERS:

T EASTERBY (78 wins from 550 runners, 14%) runs

MALIBU SUNRISE (5.37), SAM SARPHATI (6.10), HEADABOVETHEREST (6.40), CWENHILD and RIBKANA (7.10), BAY BREEZE (7.40), ALBEGONE (8.45).

D O’MEARA (43 wins from 263 runners, 16%) runs MUTASAWI (5.37), GULLIVER (7.40), SOUL SEEKER (8.45).

R FAHEY (33 wins from 237 runners, 14%) runs ALGHALIB (5.37).

W HAGGAS (20 wins from 57 runners, 35%) runs RUBELLITE (7.10).

TRAINERS IN FORM

MOST WINS IN THE LAST 14 DAYS:

C JOHNSTON (17 wins from 76 runners, 22%) runs KING ME (6.10), LUDO’S LANDING (6.40), PATRIOT’S CHOICE and BLUE ANTARES (7.10), HAIZOOM (8.15).

R VARIAN (9 wins from 48 runners, 19%) runs YOUNG AND FUN (6.40).

T EASTERBY (8 wins from 87 runners, 9%) runners listed above

P MIDGLEY (6 wins from 23 runners, 26%) runs BIRKENHEAD (8.45).

Classytips

Top Course Jockeys

LEADING JOCKEYS AT RIPON (2018-2023) WITH RIDES:

D ALLAN (52 wins from 270 rides, 19%) rides

MALIBU SUNRISE (5.37), SAM SARPHATI (6.10), HEADABOVETHEREST (6.40), RIBKANA (7.10), BAY BREEZE (7.40), OASIS PRINCE (8.15), ALBEGONE (8.45).

D TUDHOPE (35 wins from 148 rides, 24%) rides ROGUE SEA (6.10), RUBELLITE (7.10), SOUL SEEKER (8.45).

J FANNING (17 wins from 120 rides, 14%) rides

PAGE THREE (6.10), BLUE ANTARES (7.10), HAIZOOM (8.15).

J HART (16 wins from 123 rides, 13%) rides

KING ME (6.10), HOPE TO DANCE (7.10).

JOCKEYS IN FORM

MOST WINS IN THE LAST 14 DAYS:

J FANNING (13 wins from 39 rides, 33%) rides listed above.

P MULRENNAN (7 wins from 39 rides, 18%) rides PALIO (6.10), LASER GUIDED (6.40), LORD CAPRIO (8.15).

F NORTON (7 wins from 28 rides, 25%) rides LUDO’S LANDING (6.40), PATRIOT’S CHOICE (7.10).

B GARRITTY (6 wins from 28 rides, 21%) rides MUST CATCH UP (7.10).

The following horses are running today in a race at least two grades lower than their previous race: 7.10 BARROLO (down 2 grades); 7.10 HOPE TO DANCE (down 2).

Fancythat

P MIDGLEY won the 8.45 race in 2021 and 2022. The stable is represented by Birkenhead in the race today.

Longest Travellers

MUST CATCH UP (7.10) trained by P Robson, Hawick, distance of 248 miles

PALIO (6.10) trained by A King, Barbury Castle, distance of 233 miles

NOTE: All statistics are up to and including 5th June

Race 1

Richard Fahey lifted this prize 12 months ago with subsequent Prix de l’Abbaye winner The Platinum Queen and he could repeat the dose with ALGHALIB. The son of No Nay Never, a 160,000-euro purchase, should not lack forspeed on his racecourse debut and is, perhaps crucially, drawn high. Desert Master would hold every chance if returning to the form that saw him chase home Ziggy’s Phoenix over C&D in April, while Knicks heads the remainder.

WIN: ALGHALIB

Race 2

DANGER: DESERT MASTER

Having bolted up on his racecourse debut in April, ROGUE SEA lost nothing in defeat when finishing second to an improver at Nottingham last month. Tom Clover’s colt sets the standard with an official rating of 83 and is likely to be difficult to beat, providing he handles conditions which are the fastest he will have encountered to date. Blinkered for the first time and upped in trip, King Me could take a step forward, while Page Three can chase them home.

WIN: ROGUE SEA

Race 3

DANGER: KING ME

Despite being repeatedly short of room from the two furlong marker, LUDO’S LANDING powered home to strike at Carlisle on Friday. Charlie Johnston’s charge must saddle a 6lb penalty for that success, but that might not stop him if arriving in the same mood. Flame Spirit made a winning handicap debut at Wolverhampton last time out and he merits respect back on the turf, while it would be no surprise to see improvement from the Simon & Ed Crisford-trained Laser Guided.

WIN: LUDO’S LANDING

Race 4

DANGER: : FLAME SPIRIT

It could be worth siding with CONCEITO off a break, given she remains unexposed and is fancied to build on her three runs from last season. She sports first-time cheekpieces for her handicap bow and warrants a market check, along with Rockonmecca, who steps up in trip following a fair third at Musselburgh most recently. Patriot’s Choice is another to bear in mind.

WIN: CONCEITO

Race 5

DANGER: ROCKONMECCA

Only narrowly denied over 5f at this track in April, a drop in class can see INTRINSIC BOND defy a 2lb rise here and Tracy Waggott’s six-year-old appears the one to beat. However, he is now rated 4lb above his last winning mark, which came over C&D last August, so Bay Breeze can give him plenty to think about off 4lb higher for his latest success atThirsk. Recent C&D winnerTwelfth Knight completes the shortlist.

WIN: INTRINSIC BOND

Race 6

DANGER: BAY BREEZE

Previous course winner LORD CAPRIO is effective under both codes of racing and he appeals strongly in a race that might well be run to suit. Oasis Prince strikes as a prime candidate to set a decent tempo, which would play to the strengths of the selection given his penchant for swooping late with his challenge. Haizoom is back on a winning mark and is also of interest on debut for Charlie Johnston.

WIN: LORD CAPRIO

Race 7

DANGER: OASIS PRINCE

BIRKENHEAD is competitively weighted and can hold sway over old rivals, Albegone (seventh) and Soul Seeker (thirteenth), who were both behind the selection when he won off this mark at York last summer. Having already proven he still has lots to offer by going in again on the all-weather on his penultimate start, the Paul Midgley-trained gelding looks the one to be with here. Mereside Angel and Caribbean Sunset both have scope and are feared most.

WIN: BIRKENHEAD

DANGER: MERESIDE ANGEL

7 PEPPER LANE (27)

Ch m Exceed And Excel (AUS) - Maid To Matter

Owner: MrsLynneLumley&MrKNicholson

Trainer: DavidO’Meara,Nawton

Sponsor: ConorJ.C.Parsons&BrianM.Parsons

5 8 9 (6)

Jockey: Graham Gibbons

Form: 600100 C

Breeder:D.J.Lumley(Builders)

TIMEFORMVIEW Bounced right back to bestwhen landing Great St Wilfred forsuccessiveyearrunning inAugust. No excuses inYork Listed race last time and hasn’t stayed on previous tries over 7f StarRatingHHHHH Official BHARating 99

15

16

17

1 Owner’s Colours (illustration)

2 Saddle Cloth Number

3 Name of Horse

4 Sire

5 Birthplace of Horse (if not GB)

6 No. of Days since last ran

7 Dam

8 Age

9 Weight (st lbs)

10 Draw

11 Form Guide

12 Owner

13 Trainer & location of training establishment

14 Breeder

15 Sponsor (If relevant)

16 Form

/ = New Season - = New Year

Bold type shows all weather form

C = Course Winner

D = Distance Winner

CD = Course & Distance Winner

BF = Beaten Favourite

17 Jockey