After an excellent day’s racing at Ripon on Bank Holiday Monday, the action continues at Yorkshire’s ‘Garden Track’ with a six race-card.
In the 6f Class 4 Dr Keith Howard OBE Memorial Handicap (4:00), Ben Haslam's Origintrail is an interesting prospect returning to six furlongs following a nose second at the course over a shorter trip. The four-year-old filly was bumped coming out of the stalls and still made up ground in the closing stages to be denied by a nose behind Ey Up It's Maggie. She won over course and distance as a three-year-old and has shaped like a horse who requires the return to six furlongs on her last few outings.
WIN: ORIGINTRAIL
The Nick Bradley Racing Club are doubly-represented in the 5f Class 5 21 Engineer Regiment Sapper Nursery Handicap (3:25) and both their runners are in with a chance. The experienced Chumbaa has the benefit of apprentice Jonny Peate's three pound claim and is a consistent performer for trainers Roger Fell and Sean Murray. The filly broke through for a maiden victory at Hamilton Park over six furlongs on her last start, having placed on four consecutive occasions prior. The application of cheekpieces in June seems to have improved the daughter of Belardo and she remains firmly in the mix.
The less-exposed Vitarli is preferred of the pair, having recorded a maiden success at Beverley on her second start. She was disappointing at Goodwood subsequently when finishing well-beaten in a five-furlong novice stakes, although the form has worked out well with third-placed Haatem subsequently taking the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at the same track. It will be the daughter of Adaay's first outing since the start of June and improvement is expected.
WIN: VITARLI
Saint Matthew is tipped in the 5f Class 4 British EBF 40th Anniversary Novice Stakes (2:50) after a promising debut. Trained by Charlie Johnston, the colt was very keen at Pontefract and attempted to make all, before conceding to eventual winner Ajwadi in the final strides. The son of Caravaggio will have learnt plenty for the experience and is entitled to improve second-up, especially if settling better in the early stages.
WIN: SAINT MATTHEW
Vandelpark could be a value bet in the 1m Class 5 Racing Again Next Tuesday 5th September Handicap (4:30) if producing his best. He was gelded at the start of July which seemed to make an instant improvement, achieving a one-and-three-quarter length victory at Thirsk on soft ground. The three-year-old is clearly a tricky character (generally taken down to the start early), but his victory over course and distance on good ground in late September would indicate that there is potential for a surprise win.
WIN: VANDELPARK
Marbuzet deserves to break through for a victory in the 2m Class 6 Season Finale Saturday 30th September Handicap (5:00) after five consecutive placings. The gelding remains unexposed over two miles but did show signs of relishing the stamina test when second in a 2m½f Doncaster contest two starts back. He remains on a fair mark and has been found a winnable opportunity by the Tim Easterby team.
WIN: MARBUZET
RACING & SPORTS SELECTIONS
RACE 1: TELE RED
RACE 2: SAINT MATTHEW
RACE 3: VITARLI
RACE 4: ORIGINTRAIL
RACE 5: VANDELPARK
RACE 6: MARBUZET
