RYAN PAIR SHOULD RELISH CONDITIONS

Kevin Ryan expects conditions to suit both his runners in the William Hill Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon on Saturday.

The North Yorkshire trainer saddles Our Jonathan and Parisian Pyramid in the six-furlong dash, which Ryan has yet to win.

Ryan said: "I'm looking forward to bringing Our Jonathan back to six furlongs on soft ground. It should be ideal for him.

"Parisian Pyramid will also love the ground. Both horses are on great terms with themselves.

"The draw is going to be the big thing. Our Jonathan is drawn in stall 20 which is now on the stands side and Parisian Pyramid is in stall six.

"I see Tajneed is in three and he loves Ripon. If I had the choice I'd have had them both on the far side," he told At The Races.

Tajneed took this prize in 2008 and was second 12 months ago. The eight-year-old is one of four runners from the Dandy Nicholls stable along with Evens And Odds, Tax Free and Gallagher.

Nicholls' son, Adrian, had the choice of his father's team and elected for Tax Free, on whom he has enjoyed a fantastic run of success, and was most recently second in the Stewards' Cup.

The rider said: "I had the choice of the four of them, but I think I've ridden Tax Free to 14 of his 15 wins, so it would have been difficult not to ride him.

"He showed he still has the fire in his belly when second behind Hoof It at Goodwood the other day, so hopefully he'd have a good chance.

"If Hoof It is one of the favourites for the Nunthorpe, my lad must have a good chance if he can reproduce that Goodwood run this weekend.

"Tajneed likes the track, but on past evidence I think you want to be drawn on the far side. I'm over there on Tax Free (stall 15) and Tajneed is near the stands side rail. That maybe swayed my decision a bit as well.

"Evens And Odds normally bags a big one every year and he didn't run too bad in the Stewards' Cup. He maybe just went a bit quick.

"On the best of his form he wouldn't be without a shout, but he is in stall one.

"With the way the weather is you wouldn't know where the best place to be is. Normally it is on the far side, but knowing my luck, it will be the near side this year!"

Betfred believe Tajneed is ideally positioned stalls-wise to land a second win, and immediately trimmed his odds following the draw.

Spokesman George Primarolo said: "Tajneed was drawn in the middle when he won the Great St Wilfrid back in 2008, but having potentially been berthed in a more favourable stall this time around, he looks certain to run a big race for sprint king Dandy Nicholls."

Wokingham runner-up Waffle heads a field of 20, with his trainer David Barron also being represented by Colonel Mak.

David O'Meara saddles the in-form Pepper Lane while other interesting candidates include Quest For Success, Addictive Dream, Fathsta and Confessional.

Pepper Lane has won twice over the course and distance this season, admittedly in weaker company, but O'Meara is hoping the in-form mare can make her mark in this tougher grade.

"She seems to be progressing and we are hoping for a good run," said the North Yorkshire trainer.

"She won over the course and distance last time and first time out this year as well.

"She's up in grade again and up another 7lb. It will be tough, but she is improving.

"I'm not sure about the draw (17). Tajneed is on the far side but we've got Tax Free alongside her, so we'll just have to see."

Addictive Dream is another who has a course and distance win to his credit. Walter Swinburn's four-year-old is tackling six furlongs again after having had two runs over the minimum trip.

"It's a competitive race, but he goes there fresh and well," said the Tring trainer.

"He's a course and distance winner, but it is a tough contest."

Richard Fahey is worried a low draw might be the key to victory in this race, which would make it harder for two of his three runners, Quest For Success (13) and Mayson (19).

His other hopeful, Johannes, goes from stall seven, but he would not want the ground to become too soft.

"I'm just a bit worried about where the best draw is going to be. It looks like you might be better off being low so that probably takes two of them out of the race," he said.

"Mayson is grand now and it's nice to get a run into him. There aren't many opportunities for him and this is a massive ask for a three-year-old first run of the season.

"It's going to be tough but he has to run somewhere.

"Johannes is well-handicapped again and he's in great order, but if it went too soft it would go against him.

"Quest For Success is a 100-plus horse now and I can't see him winning a St Wilfrid off that sort of rating, but you never know. You have to give it a try."

Posted in: News