Nick Luck’s William Hill blog: Wobwobwob my fancy for Great St Wilfrid at Ripon

William Hill ambassador Nick Luck previews Saturday’s ITV Racing action from Ripon, Newbury and Newmarket.

Saturday, Ripon

FORTAMOUR can continue the love affair with Ripon in the William Hill Silver Trophy (2.45pm), one of two races from the Garden Racecourse to enjoy ITV main channel exposure. This admirable 8yo absolutely adores the place, and showed himself in the form of his life here last time, when dominating a higher grade race than this and value for far more than the winning margin. It seems inconceivable he won’t go really well again under his excellent rider.

WOBWOBWOB might get his day in the sun in the William Hill Great St Wilfrid (3.20pm). He wants a pace to run at nowadays at this trip, but should get a nice stalking trip with plenty of trailblazers around his high draw. He ran a fine race in this off roughly the same mark in an arguably stronger edition last year, and warrants maximum respect off the back of a very creditable effort at Glorious Goodwood over a furlong further.

Saturday, Newbury

AL QAREEM is probably the play in the Geoffrey Freer at Newbury (1.50pm). Al Aasy has all the talent in the world, but there are two versions, and he’s never one you want to launch into at odds on. One thing’s for sure: Al Qareem is tough enough to go hard and keep up the gallop, plus he’s super consistent, likes it here, and will appreciate the drop in trip after a worthy stab at the Goodwood Cup.

WOOLHAMPTON is not obviously well handicapped, but there are sound reasons for thinking he can run well in the sprint handicap (2.25pm). He’s been running well all season, but in classier company and sometimes against much less exposed horses. That’s not the case here and – on the proviso that the surface hasn’t deadened markedly and remains good – a reproduction of any of his last three efforts off this or higher marks would see him with a winning chance.

STARLORE can get back on track over seven furlongs (3.00pm). Things haven’t really progressed as you might have imagined after his debut, but there were signs of huge ability at Goodwood earlier in the year when he was seriously unlucky. Granted even normal luck, he’d have been right in the mix with horses that are now rated way higher given the way that race has worked out. His Ascot run is a total throw out – in a tiny group that had no chance, he was also asked to stretch out over a stiff mile. This relative test of pace will suit.

POPMASTER can spring a minor surprise in the Hungerford (3.35pm). It’s not been a great season for him thus far, but he’s run with some credit nonetheless, and he now returns to a track that he loves. More to the point, he loves a smaller field and a bit of room: his last four wins have come in fields of 7, 6, 7 and 8. Added to that, there is no obvious pace in the race, and he’s an old timer who doesn’t mind being positioned handy to the pace. The front of the market promises much, but both were a little underwhelming on their most recent starts, and this could be ripe for a turn-up.

Saturday, Newmarket

FINE INTERVIEW looks a pretty decent favourite in the Grey Horse Race at Newmarket (2.05pm). He was all over the winner at six furlongs before petering out at Yarmouth, but even a reproduction of that sees him competitive off this mark. He’s waltzed in against limited opposition at Ffos Las since, but he showed plenty of dash, and his Qatari rider – very experienced at home – can allow him to stride forward with confidence on a track that should suit.