Great St Wilfrid consolation race at Ripon scrapped due to lack of runners

Ripon has expressed its disappointment after the consolation race for the Great St Wilfrid Handicap was cancelled for the first time due to a lack of runners.

The Silver Trophy, which was due to be the first race on the track’s card on Saturday, will not be staged after just 15 were declared for the William Hill-backed Great St Wilfrid, meaning Embour and Mark’s Choice – the only two horses also declared for the Silver Trophy – got a run in the main event instead.

It is the first time the 6f consolation race has been scrapped due to a lack of runners since its inception in 2012. It drew a full field of 20 at the final declarations stage last year and in all bar one of its nine runnings. It was not part of the race programme during Covid-hit 2020.

Ripon clerk of the course James Hutchinson said: "It's a shame because 34 were entered for the Great St Wilfrid and only 15 have been declared for that race. The Great St Wilfrid takes all of them and some of them might be running out of the handicap in that race by quite a few pounds.

"As a result, there's nothing left and the consolation race didn't get the entries it needed in the first place to achieve what it needed to do."

Hutchinson hopes this year will be a one-off.

"Along with a full field last year, the race has proved very popular in the past and there used to be plenty left over," he added. "Unfortunately it's not the case this year, but it's a good-value race for those horses rated between 70 and 90. It's just a shame it hasn't worked out this time."

Many A Star (second right) wins the 12-runner Stewards' Sprint at GoodwoodCredit: Edward Whitaker

The Silver Trophy's cancellation is not the first disappointment of the summer in consolation races for big sprint handicaps. The Stewards' Sprint at Glorious Goodwood – the Stewards' Cup consolation contest – had just 12 runners.

Small fields have plagued British racing this year on the Flat and over jumps and Ripon, which has 56 declarations for Saturday's card, has felt the effects of the crisis, with the problem compounded by a prolonged dry spell this summer.

Hutchinson said: "It has affected us in the same way as it has with other people. They've been slightly better to this point than last year, but it is a challenge, especially going through an extremely dry, warm period.

"Getting it to safe, fast ground is a challenge and bearing in mind it's been a very dry week, we may not have had the entries anyway. However, the course has a great covering of grass and we've been watering all week to make sure it's quick but safe ground. We'll put on the best spectacle we can."

Hutchinson confirmed the Ripon Hornblower Conditions Stakes will now open the six-race card at 1.40 and be shown on ITV with the Great St Wilfrid at 2.50.

Saturday's other cards have also fallen victim to small fields again, with just 47 declared across the seven races at Newbury's Hungerford Stakes fixture, with the feature race the only contest attracting a double-figure field.

Newmarket's card has even fewer with 41 declarations, with the 6f novice (2.45) the only race paying three each-way places, while Doncaster's Saturday meeting has the same number.

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