Monday Betting Tips at Ripon 03/08/26
2:24pm 6f Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Stakes (GBB/IRE Incentive Race) (Class 4) (2yo)
The Mean Fiddler shaped like a proper winner in waiting on debut and now looks set to go one better. A 200,000gns No Nay Never colt, he made a hugely promising start at Pontefract eight days ago, finishing second by a nose after rallying strongly late on. He wore a tongue strap there, travelled sweetly, and once the penny dropped he surged home, only just failing to reel in Bolt Of Blue. It was the sort of debut that marks out a colt with plenty of natural ability and even more improvement to come. Stepping up to 6f should suit him perfectly. He showed speed over 5f but also the determination and stamina to finish off his race, and his pedigree suggests he’ll be even better over this longer trip. His dam was a Group 3 winner at a mile, and he looks to have inherited that blend of pace and substance.
He sets a strong standard in this small field, and if he builds on last week’s close second, he should take all the beating. War Gaming is the obvious danger with an official rating of 79 and first time blinkers likely to sharpen him, while Reflect On Glory is certain to progress from his C&D third. Even Sole Ruler has hinted at ability. But The Mean Fiddler’s debut screamed promise, professional, tough, and full of latent improvement. With natural progression and the extra furlong in his favour, he looks the one to side with.
Selection: The Mean Fiddler 10/11 with BetMGM
2:54pm 6f Napoleons Casino And Restaurant Leeds Fillies' Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 4) (3yo+)
Royale Union has shown clear promise in both starts to date and now looks ready to take a sizeable step forward, especially with the drop to 6f expected to suit. She shaped well on debut at Southwell over 7f, slowly away but finishing off strongly, and that run hinted she had more speed than the bare result suggested. She backed that up at Redcar last week, finishing third behind Areti, beaten 4 lengths but again travelling nicely before not quite seeing out the final furlong. Her pedigree strongly supports the idea that sprinting will bring out improvement. By Starman and related to three separate Listed/Group performers over sprint trips, she has the right blend of pace and scope. The switch to 6f looks a positive move, and with only two runs under her belt she remains far less exposed than most in this field.
This race won’t take much winning. Queen Sana sets the standard on form but is now 0 from 11 and seems best at 5f, while Secret Harvest needs to bounce back from a lesser run after a promising debut. Royale Union, by contrast, has shaped like a filly who simply hasn’t been seen under her optimum conditions yet, and today might be the day everything aligns. Her trainer’s juveniles are in excellent form, she acts on good to firm and the all weather, and she’s shown enough ability at 7f to suggest she’ll travel strongly over this shorter trip. With natural progression and a more suitable distance, Royale Union looks capable of taking a big step forward and throwing a spanner in the works for the more exposed rivals. She’s firmly in calculations, and very much the one to side with.
Selection: Royale Union 15/8 with BetMGM
3:24pm 5f Weatherbys Bloodstock Pro Fillies' Handicap (Class 5) (3yo+ 0-75)
Creative Queen has shown flashes of real speed this season and now gets a chance to show her true colours dropping to 5f, a move that could be the making of her. She made all in a Yarmouth novice in May over 6f on soft ground, travelling boldly in first time blinkers and never looking like being caught. That performance marked her out as a filly with natural pace and aggression, the sort who can thrive when conditions sharpen up. Her two handicap runs since haven’t quite gone to plan, but both came with clear excuses. At 7f she didn’t settle, and at Carlisle over 6f she again pulled hard, carried her head awkwardly, and simply did too much too soon. Even so, she showed plenty of pace that day, travelling strongly through the first half of the race before fading late. The bare result doesn’t tell the full story, she shaped like a filly crying out for a drop to the minimum trip.
Cheekpieces replace blinkers now, a switch that could help her focus without firing her up too much. She’s effective at 6f, acts on soft ground and the all weather, and her trainer is in excellent form. With her natural speed, sharper headgear, and a more suitable trip, she retains more potential than her recent form suggests. This race is winnable. Angel Numbers should go well again after her Thirsk win, and Zoustar Dreams is progressive, having won three of her last four with a manageable 5lb rise. But Creative Queen has the raw pace to put them under pressure early, and the drop to 5f could unlock a level we haven’t seen yet. She’s still lightly raced, still learning, and still capable of better. If she settles and uses her speed more efficiently, Creative Queen can take a big step forward, and she earns the vote to bounce back in style.
Selection: Creative Queen 7/2 with BetMGM
3:54pm 6f Wilmot-Smith Memorial Handicap (Class 3) (3yo+ 0-95)
Dark Cloud Rising has been shaping like a sprinter right back on song, and he arrives here with a strong chance of building on his excellent C&D win in June. He stumbled and unseated in a first time visor at Carlisle in May, the sort of mishap you can safely ignore, but he bounced straight back next time, producing a career best over this course and distance. Travelling smoothly, getting into a perfect rhythm, and asserting inside the final furlong, he won by 2 lengths and looked a horse firmly on the up. His latest run at Pontefract can be upgraded. He missed the kick slightly, couldn’t get to the front, and then found himself short of room over a furlong out. Even so, he stayed on for third behind Badri, beaten 6 lengths but shaping far better than the bare result. He remains on the same mark here, still well treated on the pick of last year’s form, and returns to a track where he’s already shown he can dominate.
He’s effective at 5f and 6f, acts on good to soft, good to firm and the all weather, and his strong finishing effort at Pontefract suggests he’s holding his form well. With the visor retained and his trainer in good nick, he looks primed to run another big race. There are dangers. Lord Roxby arrives off a good second at Ayr and is the most obvious threat, while Rousing Encore can easily get involved if things fall right. Saint Lawrence and Grant Wood have the ability to outrun their odds if bouncing back. But Dark Cloud Rising’s C&D win, his upgraded Pontefract third, and his proven effectiveness at this track all point towards another big run. With plenty in his favour and excuses for his latest defeat, he’s worth another chance to show he’s still ahead of his mark.
Selection: Dark Cloud Rising 7/4 with BetMGM
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