Ripon gamble Dakota Gold set for another jackpot bid at Ebor meeting

Great St Wilfrid winner Dakota Gold is set to make a quick return at York this week in a bid to dodge the handicapper and double his money.

He looks set for a significant hike in the weights after scoring a decisive success at Ripon, where the heavily-backed 5-1 favourite scored by two and a quarter lengths.

Trainer Michael Dods is keen to strike while the iron is hot and turn him out under a penalty in Wednesday's £70,000 Sky Bet and Symphony Group Handicap, the opening race of the Ebor festival.

"I haven't discussed it with the owners yet but I think if it's nice ground it's highly likely he'll run," the trainer said on Sunday.

"It's a 5lb penalty and he may go up more than that. Looking ahead, he'll probably miss the Portland and wait for the Ayr Gold Cup."

Dakota Gold would be stepping down from six furlongs to five and a half furlongs but Dods said: "The trip isn't a concern, he won over five furlongs at Haydock last year. And he's run again quickly in the past and it's not done him any harm.

"The only thing that would change my mind is if the ground dried up significantly. If it's good ground or slower that's fine but if we're seeing firm in the going report I'll think twice."

Dods believes that Dakota Gold has been an improved horse since being allowed to stride on, rather than waited with, and reflected: "There's no doubt it was a very good performance yesterday, he was quick and the horses that tried to go with him struggled. I don't think it would have mattered which side of the track he had been on."

Late Newbury defector Juan Elcano is reported none the worse for the minor setback that forced his withdrawal from Newbury's Denford Stakes, for which he had been hot favourite.

Juan Elcano (left): finished second to Mystery Power at Newmarket last timeCredit: Edward Whitaker

"He's fine," the Superlative Stakes second's trainer Kevin Ryan said on Sunday. "He just knocked himself in the stable overnight and he wasn't 100 per cent.

"It was unfortunate but he's okay today. He had a bit of swelling on a hock but that's come down overnight, we've had him on the water treadmill and he's trotted up sound today.

"I haven't spoken to Sheikh Obaid yet but he's got a lot of options, he's in the Champagne Stakes and the National Stakes."

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