Red to take the Ripon rewards
SOCIETY RED can continue his good start to the campaign with victory in the Wilmot-Smith Memorial Handicap at Ripon tomorrow.
The form of Richard Fahey’s fouryear-old is on an upward curve in 2018 and he now looks ready to make his mark in this grade.
After shaping encouragingly on his seasonal debut on the all-weather at Chelmsford last month, Society Red was second of 15 at Pontefract when sent off favourite and duly went one better over an extended mile at Beverley earlier this month.
He only got on top close home that day, suggesting this nine furlongs will be right up his street.
Society Red has taken on some decent horses in the past, running Group Two winner Defoe to half a length at York last summer, so these opponents should hold no fears.
Benadalid can reap the benefit of an excellent seasonal reappearance to win the VW Van Centre (West Yorkshire) Handicap.
Chris Fairhurst’s charge was only beaten three-quarters of a length in third place behind Moxy Mares after a 227-day break and a gelding operation.
He has only been put up 1lb for that effort three weeks ago and hopefully might have improved more than that in the interim.
Apache Song may have been out of his depth at Cheltenham in April, but James Eustace’s five-year-old bounced back in style at Fakenham and can strike again at Market Rasen.
He has gone up 6lb for what was a facile success and it may not be enough to stop him doubling up in the Racing UK In HD! Handicap Hurdle.
No Ceiling should be all the better for his latest start four weeks ago following a break and looks the one to be on in the Inspire Insurance Services Handicap Chase at Stratford.
Ian Williams’ eight-year-old has only had one run since winning at Doncaster in early December and could be on course for a lucrative summer campaign like in 2017, when he won twice and was placed in all his other four starts.
Fingerontheswitch has always had a preference for good ground and can confirm that impression with victory in the inspireracingclub.co.uk Handicap Hurdle.
Neil Mulholland’s eight-year-old ended a 16-month barren spell at Huntingdon recently and, with conditions even better now, looks set to back that success up for which a 5lb rise looks reasonable. SKY KHAN (29) Miss L Russell 9 11-12 (CD2) ........... B Campbell (5) EQUUS AMADEUS (22) Tom Lacey 5 11-12 .................. R T Dunne OTTER MOON (28) T R George 6 11-12 (C) ............ Mr N George (7) APACHE SONG (12) J Eustace 5 11-12 (C) ........................ J Quinlan ROYAL VILLAGE (302) I Williams 6 11-11 (BF) ..Sean Houlihan (5) GET HOME NOW (205) P Bowen 10 11-11 (C3, D) ....... J Bowen (3) MIDNIGHT MAESTRO (35) A King 6 11-10 (BF) ............ T Bellamy COOL MACAVITY (174) N Henderson 10 11-10 .............. J McGrath OR DE VASSY (15) D Skelton 6 11-8 (C) .............. Bridget Andrews HONEST VIC (32) H Daly 5 11-7 ...................................... A Tinkler STAR FOOT (24)MissJDavis711-7(C3) .............................. DBass FIXED RATE (13) C Mann 5 11-7 ................................ H Bannister WYNFORD (14) D Skelton 5 11-6 ................................... H Skelton BETTING: 6 Otter Moon, 13-2 Equus Amadeus, 7 Wynford, 15-2 Sky Khan, Midnight Maestro, 8 Apache Song, Cool Macavity, 10 Or De Vassy, 12 Others.
2-1fav Chased leaders, progress into 3rd after 3 out, led next, ran on well, ridden out, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr beating The Grinder by 2 1/4l, 4 ran. 12-1 Held up in mid-division, headway on inside chasing leaders before 2 out, every chance last, stayed on in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 20, 2l behind Ballymoy at Sandown 2m nov hcp hdl (2) gs in Apr. 4-1 In rear, mistakes 4th and 3 out, headway before next, switched right to challenge approaching last, soon chasing winner, stayed on well, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Ballinure at Towcester 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd. 9-4fav In touch, headway when hampered 2 out, stayed on into 2nd approaching last, kept on well, no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 6l behind Rothman at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Apr. 16-1 Held up towards rear, hampered 6th, headway 8th, went 2nd flat, stayed on, pressed winner towards finish, held close home, 2nd of 12, 1 1/4l behind Moon Racer at Ayr 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-155 (2) gd in Apr. 5-2 In touch in rear, headway to press leader 3 out, ridden to lead before last, ran on, won at Fakenham 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd beating Amron Kali by 7l, 6 ran. 6-1 Tracked leaders, under pressure after 3 out, weakened before last, 4th of 7, 18l behind Global Thrill at Kempton 2m cond hcp hdl (0-130) (3) gs in Nov.
9-2 Tracked leaders, ridden after last, kept on same pace in 4th flat, no impression, 4th of 14, 6l behind Card Game at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd. 3-1fav Held up towards rear, pushed along and outpaced 3 out, headway before 2 out, in 6th and ridden when weakening before last, 5th of 9, 41l behind Altruism at Cartmel 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) sft in Jul.
8-1 Tracked leaders on outside, 2nd before 4 out, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, headed last, no extra in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Faint Hope at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd. 25-1 Tracked leader, driven and lost place when mistake 4 out, soon behind and pulled up, in a race won by Master Dancer at Cheltenham 2m 5f (3) gd in Oct, 21 ran. Miss Amy Murphy 7 12-1 (D) .......... Lucy Barry (5) (29) I Williams 8 11-12 (D) ......................... T J O’Brien (53) Jonjo O’Neill 7 11-8 (D) ..................... A Coleman (262) N Mulholland 8 11-6 ............... T Scudamore (28) Mrs R Ford 10 11-6 (D) ................. D G Noonan (13) M Sheppard 9 11-5 (C, D) .............. S Sheppard (3) (12) R Dickin 8 11-3 (D2) ..................... C Poste (164) R Brotherton 10 11-1 (CD) ................. R Patrick (5) (35) Miss Z Davison 8 10-0 (D2) ................... ...................................................................... Miss Page Fuller (5) ...C Hammond (7) BETTING: 9-4 Stealing Mix, 5 Mercian King, 6 No Ceiling, 7 Brother Bennett, Box Office, 8 Myroundorurs, 10 Modeligo, 14 Deise Vu, 25 Others.
5-2 In rear and keen, fell 5 out, in a race won by Ashoka at Sedgefield 2m nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Aug, 5 ran.
40-1 Chased leaders, 3rd and one pace final 2f, 3rd of 7, 7l behind General Ginger at Kempton 2m 2f NH flat (4) std in Mar. 11-2 Held up in rear but in touch, hampered 1st, headway after 3 out, chased leaders next, held in 3rd when not fluent last, weakened flat, 4th of 8, 16l behind Admiral’s Secret at Bangor 2m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Apr. 33-1 In rear, weakened quickly 5 out, pulled up after next, in a race won by Now Mcginty at Warwick 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Mar, 10 ran.
4-1 In rear, mistake 4 out, headway after next, chased leader approaching last, soon ridden to challenge, ran on to lead post, won at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Apr beating Millen Dollar Man by shd, 7 ran. 8-1 Led, not fluent 1st, clear 3rd until 6th, headed after 3 out, 4th and weakening when mistake last, rider unseated soon after, in a race won by Nightfly at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd, 13 ran. 6-1 Mid-division, struggling after 13th, well beaten before 2 out, 6th of 9, 26l behind Easy Street at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd.
40-1 Always towards rear, never a factor, tailed off, 10th of 11, well behind The Organist at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft in Dec. 6-4fav Chased leaders, ridden to challenge approaching 2 out, no extra closing stages, 5th of 11, 13l behind Siruh Du Lac at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Nov. 7-1 Tracked leaders, 3rd after 3 out, lost place before last, 5th of 7, 13l behind Midnight Target at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcap ch (1) gd in Apr. 14-1 Pressed leader, mistake 2nd, not fluent 6th, ridden after 4 out, weakened and pulled up before next, in a race won by Solomn Grundy at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Apr, 10 ran. 14-1 Tracked leader until 14th, not fluent 16th, no impression before 2 out, 4th of 8, 15l behind Phangio at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Apr. 14-1 Held up towards rear, outpaced 6 out, rallied before 3 out, chased leaders next, ran on closing stages, never reached winner, 2nd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Steps And Stairs at Southwell 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Apr. 33-1 Chased clear leader until 8th, soon weakened, well behind next, pulled up after, in a race won by Shepherd’s Bight at Kelso 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd, 10 ran. 7-2 Held up in touch in last pair, steady headway 11th, pushed along in 3rd after 13th, weakened next, left poor 4th last, 4th of 6, 22l behind Buster Thomas at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Apr.
5-1 Held up, headway 3rd, went 2nd after next until 8th, 2nd again 9th, not fluent 12th, lost 2nd from 4 out, no impression from 3 out, went 3rd last, 3rd of 5, 8l behind Tara Mac at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd.
7-2 Mid-division, headway 3 out, in 4th and looking one pace when hampered last, 3rd of 11, 7l behind Not That Fuisse at Uttoxeter 2m NH mdn hdl (5) gd. 6-4fav Led, headed before 2 out, rallied last, soon led, headed post, 2nd of 12, shd behind Mr Dorrell Sage at Fontwell 2m 2f mdn hdl (4) gd. 25-1 Held up in rear, outpaced after 3 out, stayed on strongly before last, went 2nd flat, never reached winner, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Weebill at Fakenham 2m cond mdn hdle (4) sft in Mar. ...... HReed(5) ............ A Coleman ................. .......................................................................... S Twiston-Davies ............. JMDavies ........................... TJO’Brien ............. R Johnson Lucy Gardner (3) .Bryony Frost (3) BETTING: 11-4 Allthegear No Idea, 3 Fingerontheswitch, 5 Generous Chief, 6 Champagne Chaser, 8 Join The Clan, Bodega, 14 Victor Leudorum, 20 Tea Time Fred.
6-1 Hit 1st, held up in 6th, good headway chasing leaders 3 out, effort next, soon ridden, close 2nd at the last, stayed on under pressure to lead run-in, won at Perth 3m 3f con hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Apr beating My Old Gold by 3/4l, 9 ran. 8-1 Mid-division, headway before 8th, 3rd 2 out, led flat, driven out, won at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd beating Will O’The West by 1l, 15 ran.
9-1 Led, mistake 3 out, headed when mistake 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 11, 4l behind Night Generation at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Nov. 9-1 Prominent in chasing group, mistake 4th, pushed along before 3 out, outpaced in 4th before next, rallied into 3rd and one pace before went left and mistake last, 3rd of 12, 9l behind Inaminna at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Apr.
9-2 In touch, headway 8th, led before 2 out, drew clear last, ran on well, won at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd beating The Lion Man by 4l, 14 ran. 2-1 Led to 9th, chased winner until weakened from 3 out, 4th of 6, 42l behind Instant Replay at Sedgefield 2m 5f Novice Limited Handicap Chase (0-120) (5yo+) (4) sft in Feb.
7-2 Took keen hold, held up in rear, headway on outside approaching 2 out, kept on same pace last, 5th of 12, 7l behind Shalamzar at Catterick 2m (5) gs in Dec. 7-1 Always behind, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Savoy Court at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Jan, 14 ran.
10-1 Tracked leaders, driven to challenge on outside after 3 out, ridden and lost place after next, kept on same pace, 6th of 14, 10l behind Bentons Lad at Southwell 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Apr.
20-1 With leader, under pressure after 3 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 10, 18l behind Black Buble at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Apr. 28-1 Tracked leader until 2nd, lost place and pushed along before 4th, well beaten 3 out, 7th of 10, 25l behind Shining Romeo at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Feb. 7-1 Towards rear, not fluent 1st, headway before 8th, no extra when not fluent last, 5th of 10, 11l behind Ring Minella at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
14-1 Mid-division, chased leaders 4 out, ridden after next, never on terms, weakened 2 out, 7th of 11, 42l behind Premier Rose at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Aug. 10-1 In rear early and when in view 8th, 8th of 10, well behind Breaking Ground at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Apr. (22) Dr R Newland 8 11-11 ................. H Brooke (357) Jonjo O’Neill 7 11-11 (BF) ..... A Coleman (157) Kayley Woollacott 8 11-8 (D) ............... H Cobden (53)RPhillips611-6 ...................... RJohnson (36) N Twiston-Davies 5 11-2 .................. .......................................................................... S Twiston-Davies ............ T Scudamore ............................... M Goldstein ........................ C Poste BETTING: 9-4 Allelu Alleluia, 3 Destiny’s Gold, 5 Everybody’s Talkin, 6 Celestial Magic, 10 Floresco, Boy In A Bentley, 12 Wildmoor Boy, 25 Sea’s Aria. (39) B Case 5 11-2 ............... S Twiston-Davies (84) T R George 6 11-2 ................ T Scudamore (10) J R Jenkins 4 10-12 ........................ A Coleman H Daly 4 10-12 ......................................... N De Boinville W Greatrex 4 10-12 .................................... R Johnson (21) Miss L Hurley 5 10-9 .................... C Hammond (7) (345) I Williams 5 10-9 (BF) ............ Will Kennedy G Smyly 4 10-5 .............................. Miss Page Fuller (5) BETTING: 2 The Wolf, 3 Magical Miss, 7-2 Strike In Milan, 6 Rapper, 14 Ace Cheetah, 16 Hardessa, Edabean, 33 Burning Bright.