Great St Wilfrid Stakes Tips: Two Against The Field At Ripon
In one of the trickiest punting puzzles of the flat season, Billy Grimshaw has got two tips to try to conquer the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon. Spoiler alert; he's taking on the legendary favourite!
It feels like heresy to slander the good name of legendary stalwart Summerghand in a preview of a race like this, but I am going to do just that. He's too short at the top of the market for win purposes, isn't he? Yes he has been in the money three times in this race, never closer than last season's head second off a much higher mark, but he is getting on now and is forgetting what it feels like to win. He is such a warrior and is as close to a placepot lock as you can get in a race like this, but I can't get excited about backing a horse each-way at 6/1 with not much hope of victory.
It's not hard to find something younger and with more potential for improvement in this field, as the favourite is the veteran of the race, but it is not easy to pick just one to sail in with. Radio Goo Goo was one of the last off my shortlist as I'm confident this step back up in trip will see her reverse form with Manila Scouse from last time out, while Wobwobwob is another I'm reticent to rule out stepping up in trip and on ground and at a course he has excelled at in the past.
The one who will be carrying my cash is RAMAZAN for Richard Fahey, who has run some smashing races in defeat this season and is still on an upward curve in my eyes. His second in the Ayr Gold Cup last year would probably be good enough to win this, as would his once again second place in May's Victoria Cup. I actually don't think he did much wrong in the Steward's Cup at the same venue of Ascot last time out and with a better draw he could've finished closer than eighth. He has top weight to carry here but has talented 3lbs claimer Oisin McSweeney to ease that burden and I'm convinced he's better than this sort of race. He's only four still after all and has plenty of years ahead of him sprinting.
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There are stacks more in here who warrant a mention, not least Mr Wagyu who it is now common knowledge has a great record this month in season's gone by. The trouble is, that record has not continued this season and maybe father time has finally got him in his vice like grip. Kitai is at the other end of the age scale and warrants plenty of respect, especially on the back of her gutsy all the way win at Goodwood last time out just under three weeks ago. It'll be tough to do that again here but she is clearly thriving right now and cannot be discounted.
Further down the odds grids, Churchill gelding INGRA TOR is worth support to small stakes as I'm convinced he needs a rattling fast pace to run at to be seen to best effect. Jack Channon's runner has become frustrating to follow but he undoubtedly has talent and his third at Yarmouth last time out was something like what he'll need to produce here. He has a habit of running too keenly but in a race like this, with pace on everywhere, he should find things simpler.
As well as my main tip Ramazan, Richard Fahey has Monsieur Kodi in here who is no forlorn hope. I'll veer away from backing three in the race but I was tempted by this horse who finished sixth in this race in 2023 from a mark seven pounds higher.