Gulf Of Poets with an opportunity to resume winning ways. Michael Easterby’s 6-year-old hasn’t been seen since June, presumably because of the protracted spell of fine weather, but, with the going at Ripon already good and rain forecast, may finally have underfoot conditions in his favour. He’s won a couple of times on good ground, in any case, so he should be fine even if the ground doesn’t soften appreciably.
Obviously, an absence of 114 days is a
slight worry, but the Oasis Dream gelding won on his reappearance
this season and last, so probably doesn’t need that much
preparation. He’s 1lb higher in the weights than when third, beaten
two necks, behind Original Choice in a similar race at Wetherby last
time and, consequently, 4lb worse off with the second, Hayadh.
However, while Rebecca Bastiman’s 5-year-old ran a little better
over course and distance nine days ago, he has still failed to
trouble the judge in four starts since, so it would be no great
surprise if Gulf Of Poets reversed the form on this occasion.
Gulf Of Poets is drawn in stall nine of
ten, which isn’t ideal on a course that typically favours low-drawn
front runners, but his overall level of form is high and jockey
Nathan Evans knows him well enough to have him in the right place at
the right time.
Selection: Ripon 4.35 Gulf Of
Poets to win 6/1