UK Horse Racing Tips

The Great St. Wilfrid Stakes, run over 6 furlongs at Ripon, has, as usual, attracted a maximum field of 20 runners, befitting a race worth £43,575 to the winner. In fact, this year’s renewal, due off at 3.30 p.m. on Saturday, August 16, is about as impenetrable as they come, with the bookmakers betting 10/1 the field ante post.

Nevertheless, one horse that we’ve followed with interest this season is Tim Easterby’s 6-year-old, Fast Shot, who’s won two of his five starts this season and may not have finished winning yet. The Fasliyev gelding failed to win last season, but has resumed his improvement this time around, winning at Pontefract in April, off a handicap mark off 88, and following up over course and distance, off a 5lb higher mark, later the same month.

He was only beaten 2½ lengths in another valuable handicap, off today’s handicap mark of 97, at York on his penultimate start, despite being denied room in the closing stages and was drawn on completely the wrong side of the course when only eighteenth of twenty-eight, beaten 12 lengths, in the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot eight weeks ago. The fact that he’s been off the course since is a slight worry, but otherwise he has plenty going for him and looks decent value at 20/1 in the ante post lists.

He’s won on going ranging from good to firm to heavy, so should run his race regardless of the weather in North Yorkshire between now and Saturday afternoon. However, with heavy showers and thunderstorms forecast for the region on Thursday afternoon and evening, along with further outbreaks of rain on Friday and Saturday, it’s reasonable to expect at least some easing of the prevailing good going at Ripon. If the ground does come up soft on Saturday, he’s well-drawn, in stall 6, to take advantage. He’s a strong-travelling type, so he should be able to take a prominent position from the start, before staying on in the closing stages to lift the spoils, as he did on his last visit to Ripon.

Fast Shot appears to have formed an excellent relationship with apprentice Rachel Richardson, who switched to the professional ranks last year and has won two from four starts on him. The former amateur rider once again takes off a useful 7lb and the partnership can record its biggest success to date for owners the ‘On to a Winner’ syndicate and Tim Easterby, who retains a share in the gelding.

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