Horse racing betting: Take on Orion’s Bow with Richard Fahey’s Nuno Tristan at Ripon
We are in the middle of a brief quiet spell in racing, but York’s Ebor meeting takes centre stage next week and The Punter will be covering all four days.
The big betting race this weekend is Ripon’s Great St Wilfrid (Saturday 3.55pm) which is sandwiched between the Steward’s Cup and next month’s Ayr Gold Cup.
David Nicholls last won this prize in 2008, but he has a fantastic chance with Orion’s Bow who ran so well behind Dancing Star at Goodwood a fortnight ago.
That was the five-year-old’s first defeat in his last six outings and he’s going to be a tough nut to crack.
However, he’s now 3lbs higher and I’d be keener on his chances if it was softer ground.
At the prices, I’m willing to take him on with Richard Fahey’s NUNO TRISTAN at around the 11/1 mark.
Fahey has landed two of the last three renewals of this race and this son of Henrythenavigator ran a cracker to finish third in the Steward’s Cup consolation race last time.
The draw is often important at Ripon and hopefully stall 12 won’t be a disadvantage for him.
I usually like to have one on each side in a race like this, so I’ll also be backing Robert Cowell’s TOOFI, who’s drawn in two.
He’s been disappointing of late, but if he can replicate his second place finish behind Magical Memory in last year’s Stewards’ Cup he’ll go close.
Pointers
Nuno Tristan e/w, 3.55pm Ripon
Toofi e/w, 3.55pm Ripon