The Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon takes centre stage this weekend, offering one of the most competitive sprint contests of the season. Run over six furlongs and carrying a £100,000 purse, it always attracts high-quality fields, and this year’s renewal is no different.
Form lines from a recent trial over the same course and distance appear particularly relevant. Mister Sox, Kodiac Thriller, First Folio, and Grant Wood all clashed in that race, finishing first, third, sixth, and eighth respectively. The performance of that quartet suggests they could play key roles again, but Grant Wood looks the most intriguing runner.
A course-and-distance winner in the consolation event last year, Grant Wood returns to Ripon off just 1lb higher than his last winning mark. He was having his first start in two months when chasing home Mister Sox recently, and the run should have brought him on significantly. With his proven liking for the track and the added benefit of a 3lb claim from Aiden Brookes, he looks well-positioned to mount a bold challenge.
Elsewhere on Saturday’s card, Fortamour appears well-placed to go close in the consolation race earlier on the Ripon programme. A veteran sprinter with an excellent record at the track, he ran well in defeat last time and looks to be working back towards peak form.
At Newbury, Pinhole is a standout in the 1.50 after an emphatic handicap success at Ascot when fitted with cheekpieces for the first time. The headgear seemed to transform him, and a repeat of that effort should see him cope with the rise in class. In the 2.25, Lil Guff, though more exposed than her rivals, shaped encouragingly on her return from a break and remains a live contender if she builds on that run.
Later at Newbury in the 3.00, Cracking Gold is one to keep onside. He was an admirable runner-up at Goodwood in a strong handicap and still looks fairly treated on his earlier Newmarket win.
The Group Two Hungerford Stakes at 3.35 promises a fascinating clash between battle-hardened campaigners and progressive types. More Thunder arrives with solid handicap form, but the lightly raced King’s Gamble may represent better value. He shaped with promise over six furlongs last time and looks sure to benefit from stepping back up to seven.
