The 15:00 isn't an especially strong race, containing just six runners of which only a few are in form, so siding with Muffin McLeay looks the way to go. He has tended to save his best for this C&D, recording a win from a higher mark than today's 82 a couple of years back and very nearly repeating the trick last May. He's promised a return to form on recent starts, second in June and fourth on testing ground last month. With his sights lowered Muffin McLeay will take some stopping if able to continue his return to his best.
The Summer Sprint Trophy that follows (15:30) is arguably the race of the day having attracted some useful sprinters. Although lightly raced, Pipers Note is already at that level and is closer to getting back on progressive rails than the bare form of his runs this year imply. He proved irresistible in a curtailed 2013 campaign, signing off with two wins over this C&D. Two runs this year have contained promise and ultimately been excusable: on grounds of insufficient fitness on return and then lacking stamina over seven furlongs last time. Neither will hold Pipers Note back today so if he's able to confirm previous impression he deserves to be a clear favourite for even this race.
We're sticking with speed for SmartPlay number three, which runs in the five-furlong handicap at 16:00. Pace is what's required at Ripon and pace is what Pushkin Museum has in spades. It's not just that, though: he's still improving by the evidence of his Newcastle win in late-June and saw that trajectory checked, not broken, when finding six furlongs even at Chester a bit much last time. Now he's back to five in a race that's no stronger than the one he took at Newcastle from a 4-lb lower mark. It looks a good time for Pushkin Museum to reaffirm the idea that he is a progressive sprinter.
Timeform UK SmartPlays
All at Ripon
Back Muffin McLeay @ 3.185/40 in the 15:00
Back Pipers Note @ 5.49/2 in the 15:30
Back Pushkin Museum @ 5.69/2 in the 16:00
