Handicaps at Ripon, Newmarket and Doncaster

While the classiest races are at Newbury, there are some very interesting handicaps at the the tracks with the Great St.Wilfrid handicap over 6 furlongs at 16.30 the best betting race of the day. With rain about, punters are advised to check for changes in the going and there seems certain to be several non-runners today. At the time of writing, 17 runners will line up here (out of 20 declared), and the obvious favourite is Tajneed (Dandy and Adrian Nicholls), whose stable is in great form, who loves this track (3 from 3 this CD including this race in 2008) and has the best draw (20 - it is generally assumed that the high numbers are best here).

However everybody is well aware of these points and he is likely to start at a very short price, which in a race of this nature is not recommended. Several of these runners met a fortnight ago in the Stewards Cup at Goodwood, with Rileyskeepingfaith (Mick Channon/ Alan Munro) doing best of them in fourth. However we would not be surprised to see Advanced (Kevin and Amy Ryan) finish in front of him this time. Ryan also saddles the fancied Tiddliwinks (Neil Callan), while the best of Richard Fahey´s 3 runners could be top-weight Knot in Wood (Paul Hanagan). Obviously Tajneed can win this but at the likely odds we prefer Advanced.

The top race at Doncaster is also a hot handicap, this time over 7 furlongs for older horses at 17.00; this is another very open event but we like the prospects of Opus Maximus (Mark Johnston/ Royston Ffrench), who is racing at this best distance.

At Newmarket, the handicap for grey horss only at 15.45 is always a popular event, but the quality is not high; the top weights Sutton Veny (Jeremy Gask/ Steve Drowne) and Medici Time (Tim Easterby/ Ted Durcan) can possibly fight out the finish. The 6 furlongs handicap at 16.20 is a much better race, and the unbeaten top-weight Bated Breath will have to be at least listed class to win this; Gramercy (Michael Bell/ Jamie Spencer) is also in top form and was an easy winner last week at Ascot, but we like the chances of Dafeef (Saeed bin Suroor/ Durcan), who has been in the money on all his career starts and goes well on the soft.