The Great St Wilfrid Handicap, worth more than £46,000, is Ripon’s most valuable race of the year.
Named after the patron saint of the North Yorkshire cathedral city, the all-aged handicap is run over the 6f of the Garden Course’s straight course. The field always takes up the full breadth of the track and will frequently split into two groups so it may pay to have a selection and saver on different sides of the draw. With a maximum 20 entries again this year, each-way betting will be available for the first four and the first five with selected bookmakers including William Hill, who are sponsoring the race for the 26th year running, and Betvictor.
Great St Wilfrid Handicap Winners Since 2009
2018 – Gunmetal (10/1)
2017 – Mattmu (25/1)
2016 – Nameitwhatyoulike (16/1)
2015 – Don’t Touch (4/1 fav)
2014 – Out Do (7/1 fav)
2013 – Baccarat (9/2 fav)
2012 – Pepper Lane (20/1)
2011 – Pepper Lane (11/1)
2010 – Damika (18/1)
2009 – Markab (7/2 fav)
Great St Wilfrid Handicap Trends
- Only three recent winners were winners of their previous race
- Most recent winners were aged between four and six
- Only one three-year-old winner since the turn of the century
- No winner in the last 12 years has carried more than 9st3lb
- Four of the last 10 favourites have been successful but the last three winners have all started at double-figure odds
- Only three winners since 2006 have had a single-figure draw
Despite it being summer in the UK, the Great St Wilfrid is often run on rain-softened ground and this year will be no exception.
Gunmetal carries 4lb more than when successful 12 months ago. Stall three may not be ideal given he was in stall 19 last year. The six-year-old has not hit the same heights so far this season and his stable is out of form. His stablemate Venturous was beaten by Poyle Vinnie in the Stewards’ Cup consolation at Goodwood two weeks ago.
Dakota Gold was second last year and has a good chance of going one better. Michael Dods’ five-year-old beat Muscicka at York three weeks ago and is a general 8/1. The latter is one of four trained by David O’Meara, who has won the race three times in the last nine years. Danny Tudhope rode all three of those winners but it may be significant that the title-chasing jockey has gone to Newbury this weekend. David Nolan instead rides the ultra-consistent Summerghand, who is also a best 8/1.
Several other leading northern trainers have more than one entry, including Tim Easterby, Richard Fahey and Ruth Carr. Rookie trainer Philip Makin will be hoping for a big run from his course and distance winner Lahore (11/1 with Skybet), who was another to beat the consistent Muscicka last time and appears to have a good draw.
Southern-based trainers have had a thin time of it in this race since Markab won for Henry Candy in 2009 but their fortunes could change this year. Richenza (14/1 with Coral) ran well enough in a Listed race at Salisbury last time to be considered but BELATED BREATH looks better handicapped and better drawn.
A daughter of top sprinter Bated Breath out an Oasis Dream mare, she could not be better bred to excel over 6f. That’s exactly what she is starting to prove having improved with every run on Turf this year. She ran a cracker at Windsor last time when having to race down the middle of the track. Hughie Morrison’s filly showed she handled give in the ground at Salisbury last year. She should get a tow into the race drawn close to habitual front-runner Lake Volta and is a general 14/1.
Great St Wilfrid Handicap Current Best Odds
Summerghand and Dakota Gold 8/1, Lahore 11/1, Lake Volta and Gunmetal 12/1, Belated Breath, Muscika and Richenza 14/1, Intisaab, Gulliver, Great Prospector, Poyle Vinnie and Staxton 16/1, Venturous 18/1, Reputation and Citron Major 20/1, George Bowen and Ice Age 25/1, Lancelot Du Lac and Vintage Brut 28/1
(Odds correct at 3.30pm August 15)
