Saturday updates: 'The punters are only coming for one horse' - last year's third well backed for Great St Wilfrid

Last year's William Hill Great St Wilfrid Handicap (3.20) third, Wobwobwob, has been supported to go two better in the £100,000 feature contest that headlines Ripon's card on Saturday.

The Adrian Keatley-trained six-year-old is rated 2lb higher than when beaten two and three-quarter lengths by Sophia's Starlight in the six-furlong event last season. However, the son of Prince Of Lir has been backed into 13-2 (from 9-1) to record his second victory of 2024, having scored off 2lb lower at Thirsk in May.

Lee Phelps, spokesman for the race's sponsor, said: “It’s a pleasure to sponsor the William Hill Great St Wilfrid and so far today the punters are only coming for one horse. Wobwobwob is a very popular 13-2 chance now, having been as big as 9-1 this morning. 

"Dare To Hope remains the 5-1 favourite, but that may change if the Keatley runner continues to be backed.

“One runner we’ll be keeping a very close eye on is Secret Guest. He is the pick of last Saturday’s William Hill shop Scoop6 winner, who goes for a £61,000 bonus with their selection in the feature today. He’s a 20-1 shot with us and is a runner we’ll be hoping can outrun his odds come 3.20pm.”

The Great St Wilfrid line-up has been reduced to 17 with Bosh and Ingra Tor taken out by Richard Hannon and Jack Channon respectively.

Posted at 2pm

Course-and-distance winner Folgaria well supported in wide-open Hungerford Stakes

Folgaria has been well supported for the BetVictor Hungerford Stakes (3.35), the £125,000 headline event of Saturday's racing.

Marco Botti's filly receives upwards of 3lb from the six colts and geldings she takes on in the Newbury Group 2.

The three-year-old is proven at the Berkshire venue, having made a successful British debut over course and distance in the Fred Darling Stakes in April.

Folgaria: struck at the same track and trip as the Hungerford in AprilCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

The daughter of Due Diligence beat subsequent 1,000 Guineas winner Elmalka by half a length in that Group 3 and Folgaria is 17-2 (from 16) to extend her unbeaten record at Newbury to two.

Kikkuli, beaten a short-head by 2,000 Guineas and Irish 2,000 Guineas placed Haatem in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes, is the general 2-1 favourite.

Posted at 1.15pm

Market movers

Newbury

1.50 2 Al Qareem 9-4 (from 7-2)
3.00 11 Spanish Blaze 9-1 (from 14)
3.35 7 Folgaria 10-1 (from 16)

Ripon

2.10 5 Soldier's Heart 5-4 (from 2-1)
3.20 6 Wobwobwob 13-2 (from 9), 17 Rock Opera 14-1 (from 16)

Posted at 10am

Newbury going changed to good to firm

The going at Newbury has been changed to good to firm having been good, good to firm in places for the track's six-race card on Friday. 

Another dry and warm day is expected at the Berkshire venue, with clerk of the course George Hill anticipating a sunny start with some patchy cloud late afternoon and temperature highs of 22C. 

Posted at 10am

Non-runners

Newbury

3.00 8 United Approach (going), 12 Be Frank (going)

Ripon

2.45 5 Origintrail (going), 11 Catherine Chroi (going)
3.20 2 Bosh (lame), 15 Ingra Tor (infected foot)
4.24 3 Masque Of Anarchy (coughing), 6 Dougies Dream (not eaten up), 12 Solar Bentley (pulled shoe off)

Updated at 2.15pm

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