3.45pm Ripon Tips & Betting Preview 07/08/2017

Nearly £12,500 to the winner of this competitive six furlong sprint. Eleven runners go to post, our runner by runner preview and expert tip are below.

IN SUMMARY: SNAP SHOTS loves it here, winner and runner up in this contest the last two years, he can add another victory to that record now. Wentworth Falls would be interesting if the first time cheekpieces bring him back to form, having looked such a progressive type earlier in the season. Bossipop looks like going off favourite having won last time out, but that victory has taken him to a career high mark, which makes him an uneasy market leader in this field.

1 WENTWORTH FALLS – Began the year in rude health, winning competitive handicaps at Doncaster and Redcar, the latter from three pounds lower than now. First time cheekpieces are fitted here having run well below par when behind Sir Billy Wright last time. He is well capable of playing a hand at the business end if the headgear works and deserves consideration.

2 SNAP SHOTS – Winner of this contest in 2016 and runner up in 2015, he bids to add to that excellent record sporting a first time hood. The runner up effort came off this mark, the win from three pounds lower so there are no concerns about the suitability of this mark. He has run well in three handicaps this season, including at The Curragh in a better race than this, if able to reproduce that form at a track that clearly suits him, he is the one to beat.

3 CAPTAIN DION – He wears blinkers for the first time here, having run well in both cheekpieces and a visor already in 2017. His form had improved on the all weather in the early months of the year, pushing his turf mark up eleven pounds since he last ran on the surface. That demands plenty more from him now, in need of an improved display to get involved.

4 AVON BREEZE – Well beaten at Chester yesterday in a deeper contest than this. She won over this course and distance last April from a three pound lower mark, scoring twice at Pontefract since. That Ripon win is the highest mark she has won from, though she has placed off higher in the past. It looks a tough task for her to get her head in front now.

5 JAYWALKER – Only a length behind Wentworth Falls at Redcar earlier in the season, following that with a smart run at Doncaster afterwards. He showed little last time on a return from a break, leaving him with a little to prove now, still five pounds above his highest ever winning mark.

6 RED PIKE – Two years since his last win, he is on his lowest mark since October 2014. He ran well over this course and distance earlier in the season, finishing in front of Wentworth Falls. He has the ability to score from this mark, but his form over the last couple of seasons suggests that he is more of a place prospect.

7 FENDALE – Ran well in lesser races last season without being able to get his head in front, It’s three years since he last scored, landing the first two starts of his career as a juvenile. This is his 2017 return, not an easy place to make a seasonal debut, missing the cheekpieces that he wore when hitting the frame three times in four races with them fitted last campaign.

8 BOSSIPOP – Impressive at Pontefract last time out, scoring with a little in hand. His mark had dropped back to a workable mark there, now competing from a career high, two pounds above where he was beaten from earlier in the season. He has the draw right on the rail which can help him, but he looks plenty short enough given his current mark.

9 SIR BILLY WRIGHT – Four pounds better off for beating Bossipop three quarters of a length at Thirsk in July. That was the highest mark he has ever won from, 0/26 when rated 84 or above which makes him tough to support from the widest draw.

10 SIGNORE PICCOLO – Landed a Class 4 event at the minimum trip earlier in the season at Haydock, seven pounds higher now. He is three pounds above his highest ever winning mark, when scoring at Catterick over this trip in 2015, a past winner at this undulating track as well which will stand him in good stead. Looks a little high in the weights in a better race to be getting his head in front here.

11 ART COLLECTION – Made an immediate impact for his yard when landing back to back wins over the minimum trip on the Tapeta at Newcastle. He is 0/9 when his mark has risen north of 80 however which is a sizeable negative in a deeper contest than he is normally seen in, so he is opposed here.