The Great St Wilfrid Stakes is the best betting race of the day and no better trainers to have onside than Richard Fahey & David O’Meara who have trained the past three winners of this race. The big question of course is which one as Fahey has four runners & O’Meara has two live chances!
It’s always a good policy to have two horses onside in these big field handicaps but our main selection today is Bondesire. I like Bondesire having backed and watched him fly home at Ascot over a stiff 5 furlongs last weekend in the Shergar Cup dash. He missed the break that day and then his Japanese jockey took him on a scenic route all the way around the field into the centre of the course before powering home to take fourth!
Sam James takes the ride today and is a jockey I know well having ridden well for Kevin Prendergast before moving to David O’Meara’s. He is very good and takes a valuable 3lbs off today. That leaves Bondesire running effectively off 94 which is just 2lbs above his last victory at Chester. Ripon is a case of horses for courses and Bondesire has an excellent record there having won twice, runner up twice and third once from all his 5 track starts. Stall 11 gives him the option of following the pace whichever side he wants and ground conditions will suit if good but tacky.
Majestic Moon is the one I believe to back from Richard Fahey’s yard who is the pick of stable jockey Tony Hamilton. There is no doubting he is back running really well and no surprise to see him headlined in today’s racing post as the pick of Pricewise. There are a few main reasons why he should be backed despite his price having contracted. Firstly, he beat Heavy Metal at Musselburgh two runs ago and that form has been franked in no uncertain way by Heavy Metal who has won three times since and just lost by a short head at Goodwood.
Majestic Moon finished over five lengths behind Heavy Metal on his most recent start at Ascot but led the field to the furlong pole before drifting from the centre to his right all the way to the rail losing a few lengths and momentum in the process. That was over seven furlongs and having showed good speed that day the drop to a fast run six furlongs should suit. He has been drawn low in stall 2 which is perfect as he will have the rail to prevent him drifting off to his right. Expect a very bold show and he should be running strongly all the way to the line. Ground doesn’t seem to worry this horse so tacky drying ground should enable his stamina to shine through.
Selection: 1 Point *EW Bondesire Ripon 15:30 at 16/1 Betvictor or 15/1 William Hill
Selection: 1 Point *EW Majestic Moon Ripon 15:30 at 14/1 generally
Best of luck,
Nicky
