17:05 Ripon

Saturday 19 July 2025

All14:1014:4515:1715:5516:3017:0517:38

Kevin Kai 20th Anniversary Handicap

Off time: 17:05 | Winning time: 1m 46.56s

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Selected odds by:

(7)

Epicurian Lad^p⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: O J Orr| T: R A Fahey| OR: 60

3/1

Maiden ran a creditable third of 9 in handicap at Hamilton (8.3f, good to firm, 12/1) 7 days ago, reverted to more patient tactics but having to come from further back than the others who hit the frame. Cheekpieces back on and no surprise to see him run well again.

Form: 465363

(3)

Captain Cess^p1⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Joe Leavy| T: A Wintle| OR: 59

10/3

Form of penultimate placed effort at Bath has worked out well with 4 subsequent winners and he could have been another but for hanging left when third of 10 in handicap (4/1) at Nottingham (8.3f, good) 48 days ago. Addition of cheekpieces can only be a positive. Merits serious consideration.

Form: 973-33

(6)

Pink Azalea¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Josephine Gordon| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 57| D

15/8

Improved markedly from maiden form (following 10 weeks off) when winning 8-runner handicap at Carlisle (7.8f, heavy, 9/1) 14 days ago, notably strong at the finish. Remains open to further progress.

Form: 7-901

(4)

Sweet Kiss⁶⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 57

15/2

Looks to have been brought along with handicaps in mind, not persevered with over 7f at Catterick last time having been denied a clear run. Will be suited by 1m and there could well be better to come now handicapping.

Form: 548

(2)

Rajlakshmi²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Elizabeth Gale⁽⁵⁾| T: Dr R Newland & J Insole| OR: 57

16/1

Ran to a poor level on handicap debut when seventh of 8 in handicap at Redcar (7f, firm) 29 days ago. Needs more.

Form: 9-687

(5)

Passchendaele⁶⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: D Nolan| T: T Coyle & K Wood| OR: 56

11/1

Showed little in maidens (at long odds) and needs to show marked improvement now upped in trip on handicap debut.

Form: 700

(1)

Hazy Bela¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: J P Sullivan| T: I Furtado| OR: 45

33/1

Again looked limited when sixth of 10 in handicap at Wolverhampton (12.2f) 19 days ago. Significantly back down in trip but plenty to find from 1 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 78676

Non-Runners

(8)

Groundhog³⁰

Weight: 9-8| Age: 3

T: T D Barron J: J Fanning

Forecasts

Pink Azalea (15/8), Epicurian Lad (3/1), Groundhog (3/1), Captain Cess (10/3), Sweet Kiss (15/2), Passchendaele (11/1), Rajlakshmi (16/1), Hazy Bela (33/1)

PINK AZALEA was much improved when successful on handicap debut last time and is proven on a softer surface, should the rainfall materialise. She's preferred to Groundhog who arrives on the back of a career-best effort but may not get such a strong pace to aim at here, while Captain Cess has some solid form and should benefit from the application of headgear. Sweet Kiss could be the improver on handicap debut and is worth noting for market support.