GONE BY BACKED FOR RIPON REWARDS
By Nick Robson, Press Association
Ralph Beckett’s Gone By has the potential to be the star attraction of the evening fixture at Ripon.
Owned by Valmont, the Gleneagles filly has run to a high level of form in her two races to date and will be very unfortunate to bump into anything of the calibre that has beaten her so far.
On her only run at two she had to give best to classy stablemate A La Prochaine, who is heading to the Oaks on Friday with legitimate each-way claims.
Given the winter to strengthen up she reappeared at Ascot last month where despite being a beaten odds-on favourite she lost little in defeat behind a filly of John and Thady Gosden’s who cost 500,000 guineas and is a half-sister to a Group One winner.
That was over 10 furlongs and the way she battled back once headed suggests the extra yardage she faces in the Book Online At ripon-races.co.uk Maiden Fillies’ Stakes should be in her favour.
Adrian Keatley’s Persian Force colt Fantasy Force was well backed ahead of his debut at York’s Dante meeting, finishing third to the Royal Ascot-bound Cut A Dash having been a little outpaced early which meant he had ground to make up.
Having done that stylishly, it required too big an effort to go with the front two but he was a long way clear of the fourth Dubai Champion, who reopposes but will have had to improve leaps and bounds to make up over five lengths in the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes.
Ben Haslam’s Fortamour may be 10 but he is still running to a very respectable level ahead of the weatherbysshop.co.uk Handicap.
Crucially he absolutely loves it at Ripon, as he showed when second off a mark of 74 on his last outing.
Nudged up 1lb, there is every chance he can notch up a seventh course win at the Garden Racecourse.
Tim Easterby rarely leaves Ripon without a winner and his Canaria Queen looks sure to go well in the Napoleons Casino And Restaurant Leeds Handicap.
The mare is in the form of her life currently and has been dropped 1lb for her second to Marajito at the track recently.
The fact Oisin Murphy rides Senorita Bonita in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes at Nottingham when Andrew Balding has a runner is telling.
Murphy does ride for Simon and Ed Crisford on a regular basis, but he is Balding’s stable jockey.
Senorita Bonita cost Victorious Racing 900,000 guineas and this daughter of Starspangledbanner is likely to know her job in the EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.
Louis Veron looks another likely winner for Dan and Harry Skelton in the EHB Residential Maiden Hurdle at Warwick.
Just a neck adrift at Chepstow in October, he was a short price to go one better at Southwell last month but was beaten by one of Olly Murphy’s. He should make amends.
Jena d’Oudairies can complete a hat-trick for Paul Nicholls in the EHB Residential Maiden Hurdle at Newton Abbot.
Top tips for today’s UK meetings
TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings today. Here are the tips.
NEWTON ABBOT: Race 1: 15.30 Premier Fantasy, Race 2: 16.00 Dunkerque, Race 3: 16.30 Black Occ, Race 4: 17.00 Jena d’Oudairies, Race 5: 17.30 American Land, Race 6: 18.00 Marhaba The Champ, Race 7: 18.30 Matty’s Mate.
NOTTINGHAM: Race 1: 15.48 The Ginger Kid, Race 2: 16.18 Senorita Bonita, Race 3: 16.48 Vitality, Race 4: 17.18 No Knee Never, Race 5: 17.48 Mudita, Race 6: 18.18 Run This Way.
RIPON: Race 1: 19.00 Fantasy Force, Race 2: 19.35 GONE BY (NAP), Race 3: 20.10 Barley, Race 4: 20.42 Fortamour, Race 5: 21.12 Canaria Queen, Race 6: 21.42 Popty Ping.
WARWICK: Race 1: 19.20 Louis Veron, Race 2: 19.55 Tyson, Race 3: 20.30 Dream’s Ka, Race 4: 21.00 Thickthorn Tom, Race 5: 21.30 Beorma, Race 6: 22.00 Theonlywayiswessex.
ALL TO COME: Senorita Bonita (Nottingham, Race 2) and Gone By (Ripon, Race 2).
For fields, race betting and more information go to www.tab.co.za