Monday Mood Change Required…

Three Somerville Lodge trained horses head to the unique undulations of Ripon on Monday each facing the trials and tribulations associated with the course for the first time.

Whilst I don’t expect any to win with the huge weekend of racing that lies ahead from Thursday, it is important that, unlike a majority of last week’s runners, they finish off their races well.

First up in the opening race at 6.09 is the Starman filly Lady Rosalind who is a full sister to Soul Love. She is bred for speed and runs just 11 days after attracting support on her debut at Yarmouth. She was ridden on the pace, having broke well but was disadvantaged drawn out on the wing in stall 1. She was given a very easy introduction by Cieren Fallon once the leaders on the stands side pulled clear at the 2f pole but stayed on again in the final 100yds.

I would expect her to be ridden with more restraint by Tom Marquand on Monday evening and if she handles the track to be involved in the finish. The race has attracted a large field of 13 but looks low on quality.

Haggas has sent out a couple of 2yo winners at the track from 14 runners in the last 10 years, significantly they were the only two that were sent off as the market leader.

A watching brief but especially if the money is down – she is 6/1 in the early markets – I expect her to go close and get the week off to the start we are looking for.

No Bet Recommended

Next up in the restricted maiden fillies stakes at 6.39 Queens Hame makes for debut in the historic Bloomsbury Stud colours. She is related to Hoodwinker who won 4 times under the stewardship of William Haggas and starts off in a very weak contest for which she heads the market at 11/10. Unless there is zero support for any of the other 4 runners I expect her to drift . She has strong influence of Pivotal in her pedigree and like Hoodwinker looks very likely to appreciate cut in the ground.

No Bet Recommended.

Finally in the handicap at 8.15 the disappointing Keep it Classic aims to break his maiden tag at the 9th attempt. At Haydock three starts ago he had an especially hard race and it looks like he has never truly got over the experience. He is due to be sold at Tattersalls on Thursday and this looks to be a last attempt to increase his value.

No Bet Recommended

Three runners that should all feature and get the week off to a positive start without necessarily getting into the winners circle.