Richard Birch likes the look of a horse who produced a career-best last time

Ripon Bell-Ringer Handicap | 1m4f | 3yo+ | Sky

A decent handicap which seems sure to be run at a good pace owing to the presence of Frankuus, The Trader, Al Muffrih and Groveman, who have all set the tempo at various times.

As a result some punters may be tempted to look for a horse ridden from off the pace, but Ripon doesn’t suit those tactics.

The Trader is no one-dimensional front-runner. Indeed, he produced a career-best when ridden close to the pace in the Old Newton Cup at Haydock last time, and could prove the answer off a 1lb higher mark.

His trainer Mark Johnston landed this prize with Soldier In Action four years ago, and The Trader showed his liking for Ripon when beaten a short head by Southern Rock over 1m2f last August.

Four of the Bell-Ringer field ran in the Old Newton Cup, with The Trader faring best in third. Glencadam Glory finished sixth, Indianapolis 13th and Frankuus was pulled up.

It would be no surprise if The Trader landed this race before a tilt at either Ascot on Sunday or Goodwood next week.

Al Muffrih makes a quick reappearance after a bold bid to make all at York on Saturday. He doesn’t have many miles on the clock and remains open to further improvement.

Dubai Future ran two excellent races at Meydan during the winter, and has been dropped 3lb after two defeats this summer in Britain. He, too, remains relatively lightly raced, and is equipped with first-time cheekpieces.

Glencadam Glory, rated 110 at one time during his days with John Gosden, is now 11lb lower in the weights, and Tim Easterby, successful in the race with Mukhayyam in 2017, seems likely to take advantage of that mark soon.

What they say

Tim Easterby, trainer of Glencadam Glory
He’s a very nice horse and goes there in good form. He should run well.

James Given, trainer of Indianapolis
He got squeezed up at Haydock and this smaller field should suit. Hopefully this represents a proper good chance to get his head back in front. It’s his first time at Ripon, but he’s well balanced and has as good a chance as any to handle it. If he runs his race he should be thereabouts.

William Haggas, trainer of Al Muffrih
He needs racing. It’s not like us to run back quickly, but he’s not straightforward to train. He ran well at York on Saturday in what were not ideal circumstances.

Jedd O’Keeffe, trainer of Groveman
The form of his win at Thirsk has worked out nicely. Ripon should suit his style of racing. There are others in there who like to make the running, but we don’t feel that we need to. He’s really consistent and is in terrific form.

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