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With heavy rain hitting the UK, Uttoxeter and Haydock’s fixtures remain subject to inspection on Friday morning but Redcar’s eight-race Flat card appears to be safe with the ground currently good-to-soft.
In the 1m Class 4 Market Cross Jewellers British EBF Restricted Novice Stakes (3:55), Lucinda Russell's Johnny Ringo is expected to be well-supported stepping up to a mile. The son of Twilight Son ran into a good winner of Alice Haynes on debut and conducted his own race to dead heat for second, ten lengths behind Asteverdi at Musselburgh. It was a positive start for the colt, who remained handy throughout and showed little sign of inexperience under Paul Mulrennan. A tongue-tie has been applied for the first time and he appears the obvious choice in a very winnable race.
His main opposition is likely to be Kevin Ryan's Ribble River, who is having his first start on turf. The Ribchester colt made a pleasing start to his career when a well-beaten third at Newcastle over seven furlongs, taking keen hold in the early stages before running on again in the final furlong to snatch third. He shaped like a colt who would benefit from the step up to a mile and the Kevin Ryan team have been in good order, with five wins over the last fortnight (19%).
WIN: RIBBLE RIVER
It is little surprise, given the sounder nature of the ground compared to the rest of the UK, that the 5f Class 5 Sam Hall Memorial Handicap (3:20) has attracted a bumper field of fifteen. Although the course and distance form of Emeralds Pride appeals, Philip Makin's Woobay could be interesting returning to turf, with plenty of experience on a softer surface. A three-and-a-half length winner of a five furlong amateurs handicap at Catterick at the start of the month, the filly was not disgraced when fourth at Newcastle on the all-weather subsequently, despite starting favourite under Hollie Doyle. She broke awkwardly from the stalls and received a bump, but was still firmly in the mix inside the final furlong. A better performance is expected and jockey Rowan Scott is in excellent form with a strike rate of 20% from the last fourteen days.
WIN: WOOBAY
Ralph Beckett's Verbier may prove difficult to beat in the 1m Every Race Live On Racing TV Novice Stakes (5:05) although the colt's sole racecourse experience has come on the all-weather. The Frankel colt is nicely bred out of a Listed placed Godolphin mare, and caught the eye on his racecourse debut. Verbier was keen going to post at Wolverhampton but jockey Rossa Ryan was able the settle the colt in midfield before making late ground down the outside in the final furlong. Despite showing signs of inexperience in the closing stages, he ran on well to record a half-length success and connections will be expecting him to improve considerably for the run. Trainer Ralph Beckett is in flying form with a strike rate of 30% from the last fourteen days and another victory is expected.
WIN: VERBIER
RACING & SPORTS SELECTIONS
RACE 1: BLAZING SON
RACE 2: KATS BOB
RACE 3: EYE OF DUBAI
RACE 4: WOOBAY
RACE 5: RIBBLE RIVER
RACE 6: RAIN CAP
RACE 7: VERBIER
RACE 8: BAY OF NAPLES
