Fazza Looks Well Treated On Return To Ripon

By Rights ran an absolute cracker for us on Saturday and when she hit the front a couple of furlongs out I thought we were on to a winner. She unfortunately faded close home, but she held on for 2nd and rewarded each way support. The drift out to 33/1 was an added bonus and it made it three from three for us for the week. It has been a long time coming admittedly, but I think 33/1 and 25/1 places, along with a 16/1 winner, more than makes up for the recent lean spell.

I am sick that I didn't put Dark Crystal up at Ayr earlier today as she ran a cracker to finish 2nd at 18/1. With a clearer run she would have gone even closer. For those who love to find big priced winners Linda Perratt is a reliable source, and she will have a host of well handicapped horses to go to war with when her small string finally do turn the corner. Blue Sonic also ran a respectable race for Perratt on Sunday at Ayr and from here on in her horses are worth keeping a close eye on, regardless of price.

I am staying up North for Monday's selection and the one I like goes in the lucky last at Ripon. The 9.15 is a low grade 8f handicap and, though the ground is currently good, there is plenty of precipitation forecast. The ground is likely to soften so horses that handle an ease will be the order of the day. Fazza is a horse I have had a chequered relationship with over the years, but on his day he is a more than capable performer.

He used to race in the famous yellow and white of Ontoawinner and he has won more than his fair share of races down through the years. He is a 9yo now so he isn't getting any younger, but I doubt the Tuers would persevere unless they thought he was capable of getting his head in front again. He has won 7 of his 67 starts, but his last win came at Pontefract all the way back in 2013.

Of his 7 wins all but one have come at tonight's trip of a mile, and when he last won at Ponte he did so off a mark of 72. He has run some cracking races in defeat since that win, including a couple of more than decent efforts around here. He was a decent 5th here on his last visit (10f soft) beaten less than 4L off 72. His previous two runs over course and distance have seen him finish 4th off 74 (beaten 3L) and 3rd off 74 (beaten half a length).

He has had a couple of outings to blow away the cobwebs this season and his last effort at Redcar wasn't totally devoid of promise. He returns to Ripon off a mark of 58, a full 16lb lower than he was for his last two close calls over course and distance. He was beaten a head off 62 last September at Beverley and he is 4lb lower today. He has won on ground ranging from soft to good so rain won't bother him and surely he retains enough ability to run well off 58. I think Fazza looks well overpriced at 25/1 from a good draw in stall 2, and a big run at tasty odds would come as no surprise.

STEVOS' SELECTION: 9.15 RIPON: FAZZA E/W 25/1