Who has the luck of the draw this time in the Great St Wilfrid?

Saturday: 2.50 Ripon
William Hill Great St Wilfrid Handicap (Class 2) | 6f | 3yo+ | ITV/SKY

A draw bias is rarely as easily identified as it was in last season's Great St Wilfrid. The first four home in the 20-runner cavalry charge were positioned in stalls 19, 17, 18 and 20.

Such is the climate of dwindling field sizes in British racing that none of those boxes will be filled this season as a field of 15 takes aim at Ripon's premier prize.

Topweight Misty Grey's presence in the line up also means four of the field race from out of the weights and this can be considered one of the weakest runnings in memory. However, bookmakers are throwing punters a bone with five and six places generally available for each-way betting.

The Silver Trophy, designed to accommodate those who failed to make the cut for the Great St Wilfrid earlier on the card, usually provides clues for the headline act but the desperately low turnout voids the requirement for a consolation race.

Regardless of the Silver Trophy's absence from the itinerary, it is likely a lower draw away from the stands' side rail will again prove problematic. Double-figure stalls have dominated this since Don't Touch's success from stall eight in 2015.

The early pace is all middle to high and stall three makes life tougher for well-treated hold-up performer Summerghand. However, David O'Meara's reliable eight-year-old must be near the top of anyone's shortlist from a handicapping perspective.

While his recent form figures read 956, those three outings have come in stronger races than this at Glorious Goodwood, Royal Ascot and York in fields with a minimum turnout of 22.

Summerghand keeps falling in the weights despite running well in defeat and has previous with the Great St Wilfrid, winning his side off 2lb higher when second in 2019. He is not drawn a million miles away from the speedy Intrinsic Bond in stall six, but might require a pace collapse from his track position.

Summerghand (near): Runs in the Great St WilfridCredit: Edward Whitaker

Other plausible pace angles come via Hyperfocus (drawn seven), Al Simmo (eight), Justanotherbottle (ten) and Emperor Spirit (13). The last-named could represent the each-way value in the race.

Emperor Spirit ran a disappointing ninth at Chelmsford when a well-backed 5-2 favourite in July but was drawn wide and unable to assume his customary front-running position. He was three deep throughout and exposed around the tight-turning course.

While Emperor Spirit must reverse Chelmsford form with winner Misty Grey (drawn 15), he reopposes on 4lb better terms. It is easy to envisage this still relatively unexposed sprinter relishing the return to a straight track, bagging the stands' side rail early and never seeing another rival on his side. That might be good enough.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

Scoop6 punter relies on Snash to land huge £200,000 bonus in Great St Wilfrid

Ryan relishing Justanotherbottle repeat bid

Connections of Justanotherbottle hope his remarkable Ripon form will help him join the elites as a dual winner of the Great St Wilfrid Handicap and maintain his perfect record at the Yorkshire track.

The eight-year-old is unbeaten in three starts over course and distance, including when winning this last year by one and a half lengths, and would be the first back-to-back winner of the race since Pepper Lane did the double in 2011 and 2012.

Assistant trainer Adam Ryan said: "He won the race last year, he loves the track and broke the track record there last time.

"Those quick, downhill tracks with undulations suit him and form over course and distance can count for a hell of a lot. Hopefully he can put up a bold display defending his crown. He's in grand shape and must have a solid chance."

What they say

Tom Dascombe, trainer of Misty Grey
He has won over six furlongs at Ripon and was in the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury, but I discussed both races with the owners, who were keen to go for this.

Ed Bethell, trainer of Blackrod
He has a bad draw from stall one but he’s been working nicely. I've been looking forward to running him. I’ve had him here for only a month and he's been an absolute model pupil since arriving. He's very chilled out and I like him a lot. If he was drawn better I’d be quietly confident, but as it is I’m just hopeful.

David O'Meara, trainer of Summerghand
He’s not had a lot of luck this year in big-field sprint handicaps - he was drawn on the wrong side at Goodwood – but sometimes that's just how it works out. It’s a race that he’s been second in before so hopefully he can go close.

Tim Easterby, trainer of Hyperfocus and Snash
They're both in great form. Hyperfocus wants good ground or softer, but Snash doesn't really mind what it is. Hyperfocus was second in the consolation race back in 2019 and does like the track, and Snash deserves a good prize. We'll see how we go.

Ruth Carr, trainer of Embour
We were pleased with his run at Goodwood last time and this sharp six furlongs should suit him better than the five furlongs he ran over there. He goes there with a good chance.
Reporting by Matt Rennie

More Saturday previews:

1.55 Newbury: 'I'll be disappointed if he doesn't win' - which trainer is ultra-confident?

2.30 Newbury: Zechariah takes on his seniors in trial for St Leger in staying feature

3.18 Newmarket: Who doesn't love a grey? Trainer quotes for the Grey Horse Handicap

3.35 Newbury: Richard Birch examines a Hungerford with more depth than the market suggests

4.05 Curragh: O'Brien warns Luxembourg will 'improve plenty' for comeback run after injury

4.40 Curragh: Irish St Leger and Melbourne Cup clues as Search For A Song and Raise You clash

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