21:10 Ripon

Wednesday 30 May 2018

All18:3519:0519:4020:1020:4021:10

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Off time: 21:10 | Winning time: 2m 20.17s

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(4)

Dock Of The Bay¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: David Egan⁽³⁾| T: M R Channon

33/1

Produced a slightly better effort on his reappearance at Salisbury (1m2f, good to firm) than he had on debut last year. That run, plus this slightly longer trip, are both positives, but he may have to wait for other days to break his duck.

Form: 0-5

(5)

Echo Beat²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Barry McHugh| T: Miss Tracy Waggott

200/1

Has been well beaten at big prices in all four starts so far, three of those in bumpers and the most recent when last of nine, beaten 30L at Beverley. Readily opposed.

Form: 9

(1)

Department Of War¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon

2/1

His debut success at Nottingham last month (1m2f, good to soft) is arguably the best piece of form on offer here and he was not disgraced in Listed company last time, being eased when beaten. Looks a leading player again here.

Form: 13

(6)

Tenedos^t²¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Josephine Gordon| T: H Palmer

3/1

Dwelt at the start but was still able to shrug that off and win by a commanding 2L on debut at Kempton (1m, AW) in October. Returns for his second start in a tougher contest on paper, but likely to be a contender again.

Form: 1-

(8)

Beauvais

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: K Stott| T: S bin Suroor

6/1

Fourth foal. Closely related to 1m2f AW winner Extra Mile and half-brother to 7f-1m1½f winner Local Spirit, out of a 7f and 1m2f (Listed) winner. Catches the eye on pedigree, though stable's three-year-olds have started quietly.

Form:

(2)

Firlinfeu⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: S De Sousa| T: C & M Johnston

10/1

Made a good step forward on his debut effort when returning to Lingfield (1m2f, AW) last month, but he was still beaten 6½L that day. Can probably do better again here now stepped up a bit further in trip and could get competitive.

Form: 47

(3)

Loveisili¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian

5/2

Has taken time to get going on both starts so far, but looks to be going the right way. Step up in trip looks likely to suit him and it would be no surprise if he had a major say in the outcome of this.

Form: 35

Non-Runners

(7)

M C Muldoon²⁹

Weight: 9-6| Age: 3

T: P W Chapple-Hyam J: J Mitchell

Forecasts

Department Of War (2/1), Loveisili (5/2), M C Muldoon (11/4), Tenedos (3/1), Beauvais (6/1), Firlinfeu (10/1), Dock Of The Bay (33/1), Echo Beat (200/1)

A very tricky contest to solve with several top stables saddling runners and more than our fair share of guesswork to make with regard to potential improvement. Department Of War, M C Muldoon and Tenedos all command respect after authoritative wins of their own and it would be no surprise if any of that trio proved good enough to do so again, but both Firlinfeu and LOVEISILI have been going the right way and the latter's next stage of improvement could be to win this race.