RIPON 15:15

Non Runners: WATCHABLE.

Time: 1m 11.71s Closing Sectional: (3f): 37.05s (96.8%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 128%, Betfair SP 100.8%

This year's Great St Wilfrid lacked the quality often associated with modern heritage handicaps, more than half the field racing off BHA ratings in the 80s, last year's winner Dakota Gold the only runner with a mark above 100, but it was still a very competitive sprint with a busy finish and, as in the earlier 0-55 over C&D, there was no bias towards either of the 2 groups that formed.

STAXTON strong in the betting (clearly very effective with cut underfoot), followed up from last time in similarly gritty fashion, no doubt helped by managing to bag the near rail but digging in really well considering he was up with the pace throughout; raced near side, disputed lead, ridden over 2f out, went on over 1f out, found plenty; he won't be handicapped out of matters next time, either, but things did come together well here.

ROYAL RESIDENCE back down in trip, proved a different proposition to the horse beaten at Doncaster less than 24 hours earlier; raced far side, raced off the pace, ridden when switched 2f out, 1f out, closed all the way to the line; he's below his last winning mark and did hold his form well enough once finding it last season.

MR LUPTON (IRE) has been given a chance by the handicapper and nearly took advantage back under a fully-fledged rider, running his best race since his winning reappearance in 2019; raced near side, mid-field, ridden over 2f out, kept on well.

ABEL HANDY (IRE) continues in good heart, running a cracker in a higher grade of race than usual, doing nothing wrong for all that his losing run is significant; raced far side, led group, driven 2f out, kept on well, not quicken close home.

TYPHOON TEN (IRE) is in top form at present, the gaps not quite opening when he needed them; raced far side, in touch, had to wait for gap from 2f out, ran on; he's taken his form up a notch recently and is one to be interested in.

I AM A DREAMER claimer ridden, returned to form back at the scene of his last success, not getting the clearest of runs late on; raced far side, prominent, pushed along 2f out, short of room inside final 1f, one paced.

DAKOTA GOLD returned to form, not far off the level that'd seen him run out a dominant winner of this last season, an 8 lb higher mark the difference this time; disputed lead near side, travelled well, switched more towards rail under 3f out, ridden 2f out, no extra final 1f.

HIGHLY SPRUNG (IRE) again shaped better than the bare result, making his challenge more towards the centre than ideal; slowly into stride, raced far side, held up, took keen hold, headway under pressure from 3f out, threatened 1f out, effort flattened out; there are easier races for him than this (was 1 lb out of weights).

GUNMETAL (IRE) ridden by good-value claimer, ran to a similar level as last time (when also behind Staxton), going through the motions on the majority of his starts since winning this in 2018; raced far side, close up, every chance 2f out, no extra inside final 1f.

HYPERFOCUS (IRE) turned in best effort of the season and ought to have finished closer, yet to run a bad race at this track, and though he's not consistent he's fallen to a dangerous mark now; raced far side, mid-field, raced freely, headway over 1f out, keeping on when denied a run inside final 1f.

GOLDEN APOLLO confirmed return to form, shaping better than the distance beaten suggests; raced near side, raced off the pace, outpaced over 2f out, short of room over 1f out, ran on; he's only run one bad race so far this season (in a small field).

BRIAN THE SNAIL (IRE) ran creditably again, hard to really crab him this season; raced near side, tracked pace, shuffled back over 2f out, driven over 1f out, hung right entering final 1f, faded.

THEGREATESTSHOWMAN was out his depth (2 lb out of weights) but probably remains in form; raced far side, in touch, headway 2f out, every chance 1f out, weakened.

KIMIFIVE (IRE) did enough to suggest he remains in form, making his effort more towards the centre than ideal and on the backfoot from an early stage; raced near side/off the pace without his usual fluency, headway in centre over 2f out, hung right over 1f out, effort flattened out; he needs things to fall right but it wouldn't be a surprise to see him bounce back next time at a more conventional track.

MOTAGALLY had readily beaten a subsequent winner at Bath but wasn't in the same form, perhaps unsuited by the track (rider reported that he hung right); raced near side, mid-field, took strong hold, pushed along 2f out, weakened final 1f.

GEORGE BOWEN (IRE) got away alright but failed to build on what he'd shown at Goodwood; raced near side, raced off the pace, ridden over 2f out, made no impression.

ABATE was below form after just 7 days off without the excuses of last time; raced near side, in touch, ridden when switched over 2f out, dropped away.

CITRON MAJOR ran even worse; awkward leaving stalls, raced near side, in touch, dropped away from 2f out.

DEPUTISE back on turf, showed nothing after 5 months off; raced far side, mid-field, took keen hold, weakened 2f out.