The Ripon card on Sunday features three handicaps, which appear competitive enough, despite single-figure fields, to make them worth including in a multiple bet of some description. A full cover, patent bet – or, in other words, three singles, three doubles and a treble, making seven bets in total – is our bet of choice in such circumstances. We’ve delved into the form book and, hopefully, come up with three value-for-money selections that should give us a chance of a healthy return for relatively small outlay.
2.55 VW Van Centre (West Yorkshire) Handicap
Starlight Mystery has yet to win beyond the minimum trip, so clearly has her stamina to prove stepping up to nearly 1 mile 2 furlongs. Nevertheless, her sixth of 14, beaten 1½ lengths, behind subsequent 1,000 Guineas winner Billesdon Brook in the valuable Telegraph Nursery Handicap, over 7 furlongs, at Goodwood last August is far and away the best single piece of form on offer here. She drops into a fairly weak race, off a 2lb lower mark, on her 4-year-old debut and P.J. McDonald, who won on Jo’s Girl last time, is an interesting jockey booking.
3.30 Wilmot-Smith Memorial Handicap
Trading Point is 2-2 since joining David O’Meara from John Quinn last November, but steps up in class off a 6lb higher mark on his hat-trick attempt and may be worth opposing on this occasion with Mutamaded, who is becoming something of a course specialist. Ruth Carr’s 5-year-old has won his last three starts over 1 mile 2 furlongs at Ripon and looked value for more than the winning margin when beating Mordin by a neck here nine days ago, having suffered an interrupted passage. He, too, steps back up in class, but wasn’t beaten miles on his previous attempt, over a mile, in this grade on his penultimate start. He may be able to defy a 4lb rise in the weights.
4.00 EBF “Breeders’ Series” Fillies’ Handicap
Magical Dreamer returns to action after a 225-day break, but rounded off last season with her best effort yet, when just touched off in a Class fillies’ handicap, over 6 furlongs, at Newmarket in October. She drops back down in grade, off a handicap mark just 2lb higher than at Newmarket, and looks worth an interest in a race where all the runners have questions to answer for one reason or another. George Wood, who rode her at Newmarket, takes the ride once again.
Recommended Bet: 1-point Win Patent
