Monday's Ripon best bets and racing tips: Swingalong can land first win
- Scott Allen
- 1 August 2022
The Planet Sport tipsters are at Ripon with some red-hot selections on Monday, August 1.
With all the Goodwood Festival shenanigans put away for another year, it's time to get back to finding you some winners in the meat and drink racing of a Monday afternoon.
You can get all the latest racecards and results from Ripon by using the
Planet Sport live centre, but first here's a quick list of our tips.
Selections:
13:55 (Ripon) Swingalong
14:25 (Ripon) Imperial Khan
14:55 (Ripon) Tazaman
15:25 (Ripon) Dakota Gold
15:55 (Ripon) Bollin Margaret (e/w)
16:25 (Ripon) Roach Power
17:00 (Ripon) Benadalid
13:55 (Ripon) Swingalong
Karl Burke's Swingalong had the misfortune of coming up against subsequent Molecomb winner Trillium last time out so should find the Longines Irish Champions Weekend 10-11 September EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes a good deal easier.
Violeta is open to improvement on the back of a promising debut effort at Thirsk, while Lincoln Rockstar looks like the pick of the newcomers.
15:25 (Ripon) Dakota Gold
Dakota Gold has a class edge on his rivals in the Wilmot-Smith Memorial Handicap at Ripon on Monday.
Michael Dods' eight-year-old has been a great servant to his connection, and he showed when winning at York's Dante meeting in May that he is far from a busted flush.
That came from a handicap mark of 98 and he is running off 101 on this occasion but he has won off higher in the past.
Crucially, perhaps, he also has winning form at Ripon, and not in any ordinary race.
In 2019 he absolutely blew the Great St Wilfrid field to smithereens, a performance that came when he was arguably at the peak of his powers.
He had already won the Sky Bet Dash at York, returned to the Knavesmire to win at the Ebor meeting and then went on to land a Listed race at his favourite track.
At the time he was rated 110, won another Listed race at Ascot and until this season basically spent the intervening period in Pattern company.
In a small field he should be able to dominate and he ran well when second in the Gosforth Park Cup last time out.
15:55 (Ripon) Bollin Margaret (e/w)
Tim Easterby has saddled 15 winners at Ripon this season, his next most successful track is Beverley with six so whatever he runs is always worth close consideration.
His Bollin Margaret has dropped to a very winnable mark ahead of the Billy Nevett Memorial Handicap.
The five-year-old mare is a course and distance winner, which is always a big tick, and while she has hardly set the world alight this season, there has been the odd sign that the ability is still there.
Her last win came at Ayr in September off 78, she was beaten just over a length at Beverley off 79 in May yet runs in this off just 74.
Easterby runs two yet she is the choice of David Allan.
16:25 (Ripon) Roach Power
Easterby and Allan then team up with Roach Power, who, if running to his mark of 79 should open his account in the Titanium Racing Club Novice Stakes.
Outclassed last time out at York, he had otherwise been building up a nice profile.
17:00 (Ripon) Benadalid
While Benadalid may not be the force he once was, given his love of Ripon he is of interest in the Goodbyeflys Ripon Racecourse Stable Staff Championships Handicap.
His first course success came way back in 2018 from a mark of 83 and he gets to run off just 75 here.
He even won at Ripon last summer off 82 but he did disappoint on his last visit so it could just be he is a light of former years. Nevertheless, he is worth one more chance.
