DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SATURDAY AUGUST 15
2.55 RIPON
GRANT WOOD could only manage a mid-division in the big one itself last season from a similar far side draw, but today’s task looks a easier one on paper and he should make a bold bid to repeat the dose in this race from two years ago.
Paul Midgley’s grey was successful off a mark of 80 that day and following several uninspiring efforts earlier this season, he had dropped to rating he was able to take advantage of here last time out.
Although only fourth of 7 behind Lord Roxby and Dark Cloud Rising, that pair are the two leading players according to the betting in the Great St Wilfred half an hour later and the speed figure was much, it is safe to say a return to his happy hunting ground reignited his flame.
From stall 7 today, his pilot will have to make an early decision but providing the far side doesn’t turn out to be the slowest part of the track, he can have some sort of impact in the outcome.
GRANT WOOD – ½ point each-way@11-1 (five places)
3.25 RIPON
The winner of this sought-after prize often goes to a horse with plenty of previous C&D form and LORD ROXBY, with the best and most recent victory to his name at the garden racecourse, makes the most appeal among those who fall back into that category.
Nigel Tinkler’s gelding was scoring for the second time this season when making virtually all the running here 12 days ago and the speed figure he posted in doing so makes for pleasant reading.
The four-year-old also recorded a smart number in defeat at Ayr previously and the form of that race has already produced several subsequent winners, so there is every reason to feel upbeat about his prospects over gaining his biggest success to date.
His old rival from here last time, Dark Cloud Rising could easily turn out to be his main threat housed towards the nearside fence.
LORD ROXBY – 1-point each-way@11-2 (five places)
4.05 PERTH
FILIBUSTERING has really got his act together over the summer months since a tongue-tie has been applied and his fourth straight victory over hurdles looks well with his capabilities based on the data he produced last time out at Cartmel.
Harry Derham’s gelding showed an immediate upturn in results when fitted with his new contraption for the first time at Newcastle and since then, victories at Hexham and at the Cumbrian venue most recently have bolstered his profile.
Casting an eye back on his display two months ago, his eight-length romp was coincided with a very fast time figure for a race of its kind and with the third and fourth both going on to advertise the value of the form, even a further rise in the ratings to 129 probably is still south of his true capabilities.
FILIBUSTERING – 1-point win@7-2
4.10 DONCASTER
ZUBARU has to put behind him a slightly below-par effort at Newmarket last time out but returning to a track where he has excelled in the past, including his last two starts, might just enable George Scott’s inmate to do so.
A smooth winner over seven-furlongs on Town Moor back in May, the son of Zoustar repeated the dose under a confident ride over a furlong shorter when he revisited his favourite venue two starts ago and although things went a little pear-shaped at HQ last time, the nature of that pace-favouring track didn’t suit him as well as anticipated.
Back over a track that suits his eye, the powerfully-built gelding can benefit from his usual hold-up tactics and be delivered with knockout late punch.
ZUBARU – 1-point win@10-3