Tim Easterby targets Great St Wilfrid

Intrinsic Bond ran well last Saturday but just found one too good.

We head to Ripon for the Great St Wilfrid which is always one of the best contested handicaps of the late summer.

Hyperfocus has good course form with his Ripon record reading two wins and a second from six runs. He beat Intrinsic Bond here over five furlongs on soft ground in April off the same handicap mark of 93. There is an extra furlong to contend with but six furlongs is his best trip with some cut in the ground.

The forecast is for heavy showers so I think the ground will turn good to soft or even soft by tomorrow afternoon. That is good new for this 9yo Tim Easterby trained gelding who thrives on such ground conditions. David Allan is back riding and Hyperfocus has a good high draw in stall 19.

It Just Takes Time won over course and distance on fast ground in June. He had to work to hold his position and come through a gap to finish strongly and win, rated 90. Johnny Peate claimed 3lbs that day and is back onboard for this valuable handicap. He sweated up and failed to show his best when sent off favourite here following the above win.

Encouragingly, he bounced back at Pontefract where second to the well handicapped Kitai giving here a stone in weight. I felt he never got into the race at York last time out and we can expect a much better showing in this race. I like that his son of Power has run well on soft ground before and won on heavy ground. A high draw in stall 18 looks favourable with Hyperfocus drawn high and a likely pace settor.

Ripon 3:15

0.5 point each way Hyperfocus 14/1 Bet365 6 places else 14/1 Ladbrokes & Coral, 5 places.

0.5 point each way It Just Takes Time 18/1 Skybet 7 places else 20/1 Paddy Power, 6 places.

Best of Luck, Nicky