3.05 Ripon
Compton Park 6/1
Although the draw in stall 2 could have been a little better, I think Compton Park is going to take an awful lot of beating and 6/1 rates an excellent price to me. Trained by Les Eyre who has recently returned to Britain having spent 10 years in Spain and is best known for winning the 1997 Ebor with Far Ahead, Compton Park was a great servant to his trainer in Spain where he won 5 times and I thought he made a hugely promising return to British soil (trained by Hughie Morrison until 3) at Doncaster on the opening weekend of the flat season. Having being assigned a mark of 82 by the handicapper for his Spanish exploits, this 7 year old ran a blinder to be a never nearer 4th in testing conditions over 7f under David Allan. Held up throughout the contest, Compton Park travelled very well throughout the contest and was too far back in a race that suited those up with the pace but he made up an awful lot of ground quickly until being eased in the final furlong when it was clear he couldn't catch the leading trio. The form of that race has already taken a significant boost when the 3rd home Trade Secret won in good style by 4L off the same mark subsequently and I think the handicapper dropping Compton Park 1lb to a mark of 81 looks lenient. Sure to come on for the run on his first start since leaving Spain, Compton Park is returned to 6f on good ground which should suit him (won in these conditions in Spain) and I think he looks primed for a massive showing. With Les Eyre training his first winner since returning to Britain with Real Tigress yesterday, I firmly believe Compton Park will follow her into the winners enclosure if stall 2 doesn't prove a massive negative and I have backed him with confidence at a really generous 6/1.
Compton Park 6/1
Although the draw in stall 2 could have been a little better, I think Compton Park is going to take an awful lot of beating and 6/1 rates an excellent price to me. Trained by Les Eyre who has recently returned to Britain having spent 10 years in Spain and is best known for winning the 1997 Ebor with Far Ahead, Compton Park was a great servant to his trainer in Spain where he won 5 times and I thought he made a hugely promising return to British soil (trained by Hughie Morrison until 3) at Doncaster on the opening weekend of the flat season. Having being assigned a mark of 82 by the handicapper for his Spanish exploits, this 7 year old ran a blinder to be a never nearer 4th in testing conditions over 7f under David Allan. Held up throughout the contest, Compton Park travelled very well throughout the contest and was too far back in a race that suited those up with the pace but he made up an awful lot of ground quickly until being eased in the final furlong when it was clear he couldn't catch the leading trio. The form of that race has already taken a significant boost when the 3rd home Trade Secret won in good style by 4L off the same mark subsequently and I think the handicapper dropping Compton Park 1lb to a mark of 81 looks lenient. Sure to come on for the run on his first start since leaving Spain, Compton Park is returned to 6f on good ground which should suit him (won in these conditions in Spain) and I think he looks primed for a massive showing. With Les Eyre training his first winner since returning to Britain with Real Tigress yesterday, I firmly believe Compton Park will follow her into the winners enclosure if stall 2 doesn't prove a massive negative and I have backed him with confidence at a really generous 6/1.
