Newsboy expects his Nap, Flamborough Head, to bounce back to form in the 8.52 at Ripon, and he also rates Get The Value as a good thing at Newton Abbot (4.05)
(Photo by Richard Sellers/Getty Images)
FLAMBOROUGH HEAD can coast to victory in the Ripon Theatre Festival 1st-6th July Handicap (8.52) over seven furlongs at Ripon this evening.
Tim Easterby’s three-year-old opened his account at the sixth time of asking at Redcar in April, beating Hill O Rue by a length.
The son of Ribchester then ran well over today’s course and distance when – with the addition of cheekpieces – he finished second to Zappata, a horse who was on a four-race winning spree.
Significantly, he finished in front of his previous rival, this time on 4lb worse terms, but two and a quarter lengths to the good.
He will need to bounce back after a lack-lustre effort last time at Redcar, but that was over seven furlongs. A mile would appear to be his best trip.
Over the jumps, GET THE VALUE looks primed for his hat-trick bid in the Clearance Handicap Hurdle (4.05) at Newton Abbot over two miles and a furlong.
After pulling up twice, John O’Shea’s (above) seven-year-old has found his mojo since, romping home in novice handicap events at Stratford and back at today’s course three weeks ago.
He can defy a 7lb penalty and beat veteran six-time course winner Clearance, who is running in the race named after him.
Wednesday’s selections NEWTON ABBOT 2.05 KNIGHTS AFFAIR 2.35 ILLOGICAL LOGIC 3.05 POOROLDMACKLEY 3.35 PORTOBELLO GIRL 4.05 GET THE VALUE (NB) 4.35 JOHN BETJEMAN 5.05 USYK
NOTTINGHAM 2.22 SIDE DEAL 2.52 SECRET OATH 3.22 WAISTCOAT 3.52 DREAM ILLUSION 4.22 BOYFRIEND 4.55 RIDE THE THUNDER 5.30 DAWN OF LIBERATION
RIPON 6.15 STAR MATERIAL 6.50 ORIONIS 7.22 POET’S DAWN 7.52 SACRED FALLS 8.22 ROCK OF ENGLAND 8.52 FLAMBOROUGH HEAD (NAP)
WARWICK 6.00 HOSTILE HOTELIER 6.35 ICE IN THE VEINS 7.10 RED PANDA 7.40 SHADOWS IN THE SKY 8.10 THERAPIST 8.40 FANCY STUFF
DOUBLE: FLAMBOROUGH HEAD and GET THE VALUE