RACE PREVIEW & TIPS (MONDAY)

20:10 Ripon

Jason Ward is a trainer who has struggled with success at Ripon and is still yet to get off the mark here this season. He trains Kings Pavilion who has a good record over this C&D and presents a realistic chance to get him back to winning ways. Consistently placing and putting in solid performances over the past few years, his most recent run here does not particularly tell the full tale of his performance. A creditable 4th placed finish in the end after a three way photo, he was slightly boxed in that day and only a distance of 2 lengths separated the top four. The six year old has a solid chance to continue improving at what has already proven to be a winnable mark. The pace of the race should ultimately define his chance.

Both Mandarin and Sameem provide the danger and it’s worth noting the repeat booking of Tudhope on Addis Ababa who seems to be getting ever closer to winning since his first victory last year, his form reads well but still needs to show further improvement to pick up a race of this standard.

KING’S PAVILION (WIN)

20:30 Roscommon

We head over to Roscommon where their penultimate race of the evening is their showpiece race on the card. Alisted event where most of the major Irish yards are represented.

Although you always have to respect a horse who hails from the yard of Dermot Weld to me this looks like a clash between father and son.

Downdraft was well fancied for a big handicap at Royal Ascot last time out and ran very credibly to finish 6th of 19 runners. That is probably the best form on offer but it’s the lightly raced unknown quantity of Kangaroo Valley that sparks my interest the most.

Although not in the same league as the opposition his rivals have competed against the 8 length demolition job that Kangaroo Valley put in at Tipperary last time was more than eye-catching. Of course he’ll have to take a huge step up to compete at this level but hailing from the Ballydoyle yard they seem to have unlocked the key to him and seems to be on a vast upward trajectory.

KANGAROO VALLEY (WIN)

The Cambridge News – PicksfromthePaddock.co.uk:

20:10 Ripon – KING’S PAVILION (WIN)

The Jersey Evening Post – Rory Paddock:

20:30 Roscommon – KANGAROO VALLEY (WIN)

East Anglian Daily Times – Dean Kilbryde:

19:40 Ripon – JUST HUBERT (WIN)

Norwich Evening News – Chris Connolly:

15:30 Ayr – MERRY BANTER (WIN)

Ipswich Star – Matt Polley:

17:00 Ayr – DREAMSELLER (WIN)