Record set to skip Wilfrid
OFF The Record is likely to swerve the William Hill Great St Wilfrid Stakes at Ripon on Saturday because of the prospect of rain-softened ground.
Trainer James Given does not want to risk the Stewards’ Cup seventh on soft going and is looking to alternative races next week.
“I think we are an unlikely runner on that ground. The rain came against him at Goodwood and we wouldn’t want to run him again on soft ground,” said the Lincolnshire trainer.
“We have got a couple of options. The following Saturday there’s the totesport Beverley Bullet and on the same day there’s the Hopeful Stakes, a Listed race over six furlongs at Newmarket.
“We wouldn’t want to run on rain-softened ground.”
Off The Record had been 12-1 with the sponsors for Saturday’s six-furlong heritage handicap.
Ripon clerk of the course James Hutchinson reported the ground to be soft after rain on Tuesday morning.
“The forecast for the next couple of days is still unsettled, so I think it will probably stay on the slow side,” said Hutchinson.
“I hope we’ll get the chance to dry up a bit but I’m not hopeful we’ll get anything drier than good to soft.”
Tim Etherington hopes Fullandby can make it third-time lucky in Saturday's race, having finished second in 2006 and 10th 12 months ago.
“He ran a super race last year and he actually won the race on his side, which gives you an idea of how important the draw is,” said the North Yorkshire handler.
“When he was second in the race we weren’t drawn great again, but we moved across to the right side.
“The horse is in great form , he ran very well to finish second at Ayr last time and, in my opinion, the likely soft ground will suit him.
“Obviously he is up a few pounds this time around and it is a very competitive race, but all we are hoping for is a decent high draw,” Etherington told At The Races.
Derek Shaw has yet to decide whether to commit Baby Strange to the race.
The four-year-old colt has just been touched off in his last two races and his main target is the Ladbrokes Portland Handicap at Doncaster next month.
“I’ve got to discuss it with the owners. I made the entry because of all the rain we’re having,” said the Newark trainer.
“The plan was to go straight to the Portland, but at this moment, I can’t say. We could wait for Doncaster but it could be firm there and then we wouldn’t be running.
“He’s in good form – he came back from Goodwood well – but that’s two good races in succession he’s been beaten a nose in.”
Meanwhile Michael Bell is hoping for testing ground at Newbury on Saturday to allow Gull Wing to take her chance in the CGA Geoffrey Freer Stakes.
The four-year-old was a Listed winner at Nottingham earlier in the season and chased home a smart sort in Yellowstone at York last month.
However, she finished last of 10 on her latest outing and Bell believes cut in the ground is essential for the daughter of In The Wings.
“We’re certainly monitoring the situation for Gull Wing and if the ground at Newbury was to get very testing and become specialist soft ground, then we will give it serious thought,” said Bell.
“She just didn’t let herself down on the ground last time and Jamie (Spencer) said we probably should have taken her out down at the start.
“She is more at home on an easy surface so we will just have to hope for cut in the ground at the weekend.”
