Ripon Saturday

2.05 William Hill Silver Trophy Handicap 6f

Hyperfocus has been hard to predict, but the former Hugo Palmer-trained gelding is at his best on easy ground, and is now 1lb lower than when scoring over course and distance in June.

And while none of his subsequent runs would encourage support, he’s the type of horse you simply have to back when he’s handicapped to win as he rarely signals a revival in fortunes until he’s back in the winners’ circle, and that’s why a bad run in the Stewards’ Cup is largely an irrelevance, other than to point out that the going was never likely to suit him at Goodwood.

He’s taking a marked drop in class here, has slipped further in the weights, and is well drawn on the far side with plenty of pace in his part of the track to suggest it will hold sway.

While he’s hardly one for maximum faith, he is handicapped to win, and he does tend to win when the opportunity arises.

2.40 William Hill Ripon Hornblower Conditions Stakes 6f

Another who comes here having run a stinker at Goodwood is Mark Johnston’s Eton College, but his effort in a nursery there was simply too bad to be true, and he faces very weak competition in this minor event. He’s proven on the ground, and should soon be in a winning position.

Ventura Lightning is an obvious danger, but lacks the experience of the selection, which ought to be a big factor in a race which may develop into a game of cat and mouse.

3.15 William Hill Great St Wilfrid Handicap 6f

Connections of Richenza have had to be very patient given the daughter of Holy Roman Emperor’s need for soft ground, but they could well be rewarded over the coming months, starting with this valuable pot.

Ralph Beckett’s filly won at Goodwood in May and ran really well after rearing when the stalls opened in listed company at Salisbury in June.

It’s probably a blessing that she wasn’t turned out again before this as the pair who beat here were well below par subsequently, and probably bounced after that slog in the mud.

Richenza is well entered up in the autumn, with the Ayr Gold Cup her prime objective, and this lightly raced four-year-old has more to come when getting a protracted run at things with the ground to suit.

Her yard is in form, and she is well berthed given the field is expected to split into two groups, which will give her plenty of room to manoeuvre assuming she is away on terms.

Newmarket Saturday

2.45 Unibet Grey Horse Handicap 6f

Third in this race a year ago, Glenn Coco is an improved performer this season, as is his rider Marco Ghiani, who has a 20% strike-rate since the start of July. With the 7lb claimer reducing the top-weight’s burden in an ordinary, if interesting handicap, Stuart Williams’s charge should go very well, particularly as a strong pace will bring his stamina into play. The selection does most of his racing over seven furlongs or further, but ran well dropped in trip 12 months ago, and he should cope even better this time round.

3.20 Unibet Fillies’ Nursery Handicap 7f

Half of these won last time out, and most are progressive, but it’s one of the two maidens in the field who will take the beating, in my opinion. Imperial Gloriana has run well on all three starts, but is nowhere near the top of her trajectory of improvement, and has been given a very fair mark to take into nurseries, having split a pair of subsequent winners in a competitive seven-furlong novice at Thirsk last time.

She made her move a little earlier than ideal there, but was beaten less than a length by the very promising Diamond Sparkles and may not need to improve much to come out on top here.

Newbury Saturday

1.50 Denford Stakes (Listed) 7f

Juan Elcano has looked a colt of great potential to date, winning on debut and finishing an excellent second in Newmarket’s Superlative Stakes last time. Dropping from Group 2 company to a pretty workaday listed contest, he ought to be much too good for his opponents, and I’m surprised he’s been priced up at odds against in the early markets. He is very much one to keep on side, and is worth backing assuming his price doesn’t collapse overnight.

2.25 Unibet Geoffrey Freer Stakes (Group 3) 1m 5f 61y

There isn’t much of Durston, but he has a big engine, and improved further when just denied by Sir Ron Priestley at Goodwood last time. That isn’t strictly good enough to win here, but with Morando very short after a trio of below-par efforts, there is a chance of a result here, and the selection is both progressive and better than the result last time. He did a lot of running to get so close last time, and was beaten only by one who was given a more efficient ride.

That was third consecutive run where he improved his form by a sizeable chunk, and he’s about the only one of these capable of progressing beyond his current mark, so is worth chancing with easy ground and a step up in trip firmly in his favour.

3.35 Unibet Hungerford Stakes (Group 2) 7f

Hey Gaman stands out like a beacon in the Hungerford Stakes, a genuine Group 1 performer at this trip, and now that he has strengthened into his impressive frame, a thoroughly consistent one as well. He was beaten by Sir Dancealot in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood last time, but has nothing to fear against that rival on softer ground, and should turn the tables.

He wasn’t helped by the relatively modest gallop at Goodwood, but should have the race run to suit with Donjuan Triumphant likely to take no prisoners, and he looks a cracking bet at the early prices.

Recommended

Hyperfocus 2.05 Ripon – 1pt win @ 11/1 (Bet365)

Richenza 3.15 Ripon – 1pt e/w @ 14/1 (Coral)

Durston 2.25 Newbury – 1pt win @ 13/2 (Bet365)

Hey Gaman 3.35 Newbury – 2pts win @ 4/1 (Bet365, Unibet)

Winner

Rory tipped Indianapolis (7/1) at Ascot last Saturday