7.35pm Ripon Tips & Betting Preview 07/06/2017

A field of eight go to post for the eighth race of the day at Ripon on Wednesday, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Dandy Highwayman is likely to be popular but this can go to IMPART, who runs for the in form David O’Meara team. He made a good seasonal/stable debut at Chester when last seen, around two lengths behind Poet’s Society but he is better off this time and has the assistance of 3lb claimer Joe Doyle. He will strip much fitter this time also and off a mark of 83, he can do a huge amount of damage from stall five as he remains unexposed with only six runs under his belt.

1 POET’S SOCIETY – Last win came back in September on the all weather at Chelmsford when making all as an outsider in a competitive looking race and he hadn’t necessarily been disgraced on subsequent efforts which included a forth at Chester on his penultimate start. He was however decidedly disappointing when well beaten at Catterick thirteen days ago and he has something to prove off the same mark for Mark Johnston. He is however drawn well in stall two and he’s back to only a pound above his last winning mark with the in form PJ McDonald taking the ride, so he has obvious claims with conditions to suit.

2 IMPART – Won at Navan four starts ago for the Dermot Weld yard and although he was poor in two subsequent runs, he made his seasonal and stable debut for David O’Meara last time out where was a good sixth. He looked as though he’d benefit from the run as he was outpaced in the straight before finding a second wind a furlong from home to stay on into sixth, only around two lengths behind Poet’s Society. He’ll strip much fitter this time for the in form O’Meara yard and with conditions to suit, he looks sure to go close under Josh Doyle who takes off a useful 3lb from his back.

3 GROUPIE – Lightly raced three year old who has only had seven runs thus far, starting off life with a win on debut for the Richard Hannon team and a subsequent auction stakes event was added to her tally on his third start. From there she was highly tried in some tough races including at Group 3 level, where she was well beaten and she transferred to Tom Tate following a heavy defeat in the Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket. She was well beaten on debut for this yard on her seasonal reappearance in a Class 3 event at over C&D and although she’ll appreciate the drop in class, this is still a competitive contest and she may need her handicap mark to slip further before she resumes winning ways. Conditions are to suit and James Sullivan takes the ride which is a boost, but others look more appealing this time.

4 ANGEL MEADOW – Winner on debut at odds of 66/1 at York in June 2016 and she would follow up two starts later with a good second in listed company at Ayr, though she was well beaten and the form is perhaps suspect as she was well beaten on three starts that followed in handicap and listed company. She has a huge amount to prove after she weakened tamely on seasonal debut at York three weeks ago and even though the handicapper has given her a chance at the weights, she remains risky at present. The booking of De Sousa is interesting but it doesn’t do enough to tempt us this time, though she cannot be discounted for placings if the return to better ground has a positive effect.

5 DANDY HIGHWAYMAN – Three year old for Ollie Pears who has returned this season in brilliant form, winning his first handicap when storming to a big field victory at Ripon in April on seasonal debut. Raised 4lb for that win, he finished a good third at Hamilton on his latest start and he may well have more to offer as his mark remains unchanged for this run under Andrew Mullen. The current conditions will suit and he remains unexposed, so an improved effort looks on the cards if breaking well from stall eight. Likely each way player for connections who recently had a winner.

6 GLORIOUS ROCKET – David Barron does well with his sprinters and although this three year old is unlikely to be a stable start, he took his sole victory thus far when winning a maiden at Kempton in September. His handicap debut wasn’t devoid of promise when third at Chelmsford (albeit well beaten) but he failed to build on that on his latest start when well beaten at Lingfield after over racing early on. A return to turf could prompt some improvement with the handicapper giving him a chance and the drop back to six furlongs should be a further positive as he has performed best at this distance in his career. He should be in the shake up under the in form Philip Makin and is another to consider from stall four.

7 NIGHT LAW – After winning her maiden at the third attempt at Sandown, Richard Fahey’s three year old has been simply outclassed on her latest two starts at both Chester and Newmarket in Class 2 company and this race represents a welcome drop in grade She showed a great attitude to fend off her rivals in that maiden and there is likely more to come from this three year old by Lawman, as this is likely her level. Conditions will suit and the yard have had eleven winners in the past two weeks, so there is no reasons she can’t go well down three pounds in the handicap.

8 SUITCASE ‘N’ TAXI – Sitting at the bottom of the weights for this race, this son of Major Cadeaux was a 10,000 euro purchase for connections and he gained a well deserved victory at the sixth attempt on his penultimate start at Pontefract with a smooth success. He looked to have a bit in hand that day but an 8lb rise coupled with a rise to this class caught him out when he could only muster ninth at Haydock when last seen, dropping away tamely when asked for an effort. She is clearly capable of better and if bouncing out of stall two she has a good chance of placing, though he will be taken on for the lead which does lessen his claims some what.