The Great St. Wilfrid
Stakes, run over 6 furlongs at Ripon, is the highlight of the season
at the North Yorkshire track. Four favourites, including the last
three, have won the race in the last 10 years, but were accompanied
by winners at 20/1, 18/1, 11/1 and 10/1 (twice), so we at least have
a fighting chance of unearthing some value for money.
The ante post
favourite, Orion’s Bow (5/1) is one of the most progressive horses
in training, having risen 37lb in the weights since May, but his
presence does, at least, introduce the potential for rich pickings at
the other end of the market.
Go Far (33/1)
finished second, beaten a head, in a 0-105 handicap over 6 furlongs
at Goodwood on his seasonal reappearance in May, only to be awarded
the race in the stewards’ room, and races off an identical handicap
mark. He finished last of ten from a wide draw at Chester next time
but, although never beyond mid-division, wasn’t entirely disgraced
in the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood two weeks ago. He won the Ayr
Bronze Cup last September off a 7lb lower mark so, while he needs to
improve on recent efforts, he won’t be a totally forlorn hope if he
does.
Mythmaker (25/1)
is only 2lb higher in the weights than when beaten a neck by See The
Sun in a highly competitive 0-105 handicap over 6 furlongs at York on
his penultimate start and would have an obvious chance if able to
reproduce that form. His subsequent effort on the Tapeta at Newcastle
was tame by comparison, but he wouldn’t be the first horse to be
unsuited by that surface. He’s been campaigned almost exclusively
on artificial surfaces since last October, but the York run
represented arguably a career-best effort and he deserves a chance to
confirm that promise.
Selections:
Ripon 3.55 Go Far (33/1), Mythmaker (25/1)
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