MOON READY TO LAND
I AM close to home at Ripon today with a nice book of rides.
DIAMONDONTHEHILL (5.15) gets us under way.
He is having his first run since last October.
Then Ben Haslam’s WEN MOON (5.50) has an excellent chance in the Ripon Silver Sprint Trophy.
He is ideally suited by the track – some horses struggle with these undulations – and appreciates plenty of cut underfoot.
He gave a decent account of himself when placed on his seasonal reappearance at Pontefract so with Ben’s horses absolutely flying, everything appears A1.
Sir Mark Prescott’s
SEA KING (6.20) is another who should relish the underfoot conditions.
He makes his seasonal reappearance in the M.C.H. Hutchinson Memorial Trophy after tackling similar good quality Class Two handicaps – Old Borough Cup (Haydock) and the Autumn Cup (Newbury) – late last season.
MERRIJIG (6.50) is a versatile horse who arrives seeking a hat-trick in the six-runner stayers’ handicap.
John Berry’s charge supplemented last season’s Redcar win on Polytrack at Chelmsford but was denied the opportunity to race there again a few weeks later after suffering a cut when travelling to the Essex venue.
OLIVIER PESLIER
Four-time Arc-winning rider Olivier Peslier this week announced his retirement from the saddle at the age of 51. Peslier, also four-time champion in his native France, enjoyed success all over the world, with Goldikova being one horse who springs to mind.
Wherever it was in the world that Peslier travelled, he soon adapted to the pace demands, track characteristics and idiosyncrasies, partnering winner after winner. That alone is testament to his talent and natural ability in the saddle.
THE WEEKLY WATCHLIST…
American Affair (Jim Goldie, left) has thrived over the winter and did shock us a little by how sharp he has become. He was winning over seven furlongs this time last year.
Now he’s dragging me through a five-furlong handicap at Musselburgh where the runners are going flat out and he’s still tanking along. He’s well ahead of his handicap mark and, given the family got better with age, he might be a sprinter going places. The short-term plan is to seek more opportunities in the Sky Bet Sunday Series. Paul Mulrennan was talking to Mark Rowntree.
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