UK Horse Racing Tips: Ripon

Dreadpirateroberts was sent off favourite when beaten a length at Brighton and he has to be a danger to all with any improvement. QANDIL finished one place behind Archie Watson's colt, but she displayed signs of inexperience, including when swerving right at the start, and the daughter of Churchill may step forward enough to exact her revenge here. Pointofblue looks interesting, being from the first crop of Blue Point, and she may be one to watch on debut for the in-form Haggas yard.
Prediction : 1st Qandil 2nd Dreadpirateroberts 3rd Pointofblue

Three Yorkshiremen stayed on to grab second late on over 7f at Catterick earlier this month and he could be of interest upped in trip in first-time cheekpieces. Both Natzor and Victoria County represent trainer Archie Watson and it may be close between the two, but preference goes to BLEAK. A beaten favourite at Nottingham over a mile last time out, he is bred to appreciate this distance and commands plenty of respect.
Prediction : 1st Bleak 2nd Three Yorkshiremen 3rd Natzor

THE PREDICTOR was progressive in staying handicaps last season, having won over this trip at Thirsk in August, and it would be no surprise if the four-year-old had more to offer. Land Of Winter scored over C&D in 2021 and is heading towards a competitive mark, with the handicapper dropping him 2lb for his return effort at Pontefract, while Barenboim could be interesting if handling a softer surface.
Prediction : 1st The Predictor 2nd Land Of Winter 3rd Barenboim

Several of these boast good course form and it would come as no surprise to see the likes of Justanotherbottle, a three-time winner over 6f here, and Intrinsic Bond, last year's Great St Wilfrid victor, go close back on a happy hunting ground. However, Nomadic Empire and VINTAGE CLARETS could be more rewarding to focus on over this trip, with the latter shading preference after a solid display on his return at Musselburgh earlier in the month. Illusionist is also considered.
Prediction : 1st Vintage Clarets 2nd Nomadic Empire 3rd Justanotherbottle

CAPITAL THEORY has progressed on the all-weather this year, which includes a victory at Chelmsford on his penultimate start, and reverts to turf with an appealing profile, especially in a contest that his trainer Charlie Johnston, along with his father Mark, have won the last three renewals. Australian Angel was kept busy throughout last season and is capable of a decent showing dropped back in trip, while Thundering can enter calculations based on his second at York's Ebor meeting.
Prediction : 1st Capital Theory 2nd Australian Angel 3rd Thundering

William Haggas rarely leaves Ripon empty-handed and the lightly raced SHIGAR looks a prime candidate to maintain the healthy strike-rate now he has proven his stamina over a mile. The son of Farhh was a close second in a similarly competitive handicap at Newmarket when last seen and, with the yard now hitting top form, he is dangerous to ignore. Darkness is feared most after a sound effort at Redcar on his return to action, while Poet's Dawn is also fancied to be thereabouts.
Prediction : 1st Shigar 2nd Darkness 3rd Poets Dawn

BROOKLYN NINE NINE didn't need to build on the promise of his juvenile efforts to get off the mark at Newcastle last month and the son of No Nay Never makes plenty of appeal on his handicap bow. Gemini Star is likely to enter the reckoning following her second at Nottingham last Saturday off 1lb lower, and she may benefit from the extra furlong on this occasion, while Another Baar, a winner here last week, and Spirit Of Applause are others worth considering.
Prediction : 1st Brooklyn Nine Nine 2nd Gemini Star 3rd Another Baar