THERE’S another valuable handicap sprint today to ponder with the William Hill Great St Wilfrid at Ripon, and the same old poser – where is the best draw? Usually, when the ground is on the soft side, high numbers have the call in big fields whereas on a quicker surface those racing nearest the stands’ side from a single-figure stall tend to dominate. At the moment, conditions are described as good, though outbreaks of rain, possibly heavy at times, are forecast, so we are not any wiser. I am gambling on high numbers coming out on top in selecting the Lambourn-trained Kostar. It took a while for Clive Cox’s horses to make their mark this year, but they are in fine fettle now, and Kostar has hinted more than once that he has a big handicap in him. The six-year-old got himself on the wrong side of the handicapper by bolting up at Pontefract in April on his second start of the campaign. He blew away the opposition in the last furlong and the official assessor responded by raising him 10lb. From his lofty mark of 102, his opportunities were limited and he found himself in condition and Listed races in which he struggled. He did return to handicaps last time when taking his chance in the Stewards’ Cup and made no impression. The handicapper has relented a little by dropping him 4lb since his Pontefract success and, with the stable in much better form, I expect him to figure in the finish at big odds. David Nicholls has a strong hand and the pick of his trio could be Ice Planet, the 2005 winner and third to Excusez Moi last year. Nicholls is also responsible for the veteran Bahamian Pirate who still retains ability but is likely to struggle in such a competitive heat, while the stable’s other runner Indian Trail is considered, by the bookmakers anyway, as having the best chance. This is largely based on his recent luckless third to Pearly Way in the consolation race for those who failed to make the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood. He has been put up a couple of pounds for that but he is still lower than his last winning mark at Newcastle on Plate Day last year. Richard Fahey is represented by Philharmonic and Wyatt Earp and, despite stable jockey Paul Hanagan showing a preference for the former, who has made only one appearance this term, I regard Wyatt Earp as the better bet. Northumberland landowner Duncan Davidson has found a new lease of life for racing. Not only has he bought several jumpers for his daughter Rose to ride, he is having another dabble at the Flat game and doing very well. He had a winner at Doncaster with his two-year-old filly Falconry, trained by James Fanshawe, while two of the four juveniles he has with Patrick Haslam at Middleham have also obliged. One of them, Choose The Moment, attempts to follow up his Carlisle debut victory in the A Rhodes Haulage Ripon Horn Blower Conditions Stakes. It won’t be easy under a penalty but he looks to have the scope to make his presence felt in better company. Sir Michael Stoute and champion jockey Ryan Moore are the combination to watch out for at Newbury where they can team up with Papal Bull to win the CGA Geoffrey Freer Stakes. He isn’t straightforward but has always been talented. The Stoute-Moore partnership should also be on the mark with Gulf Express in the Mirage Signs Handicap. | 
