Ripon 2:49 Result

Tiva is top-weighted on merit with the highest OR (85) in the field and her recent form figures 463141 show a filly rapidly improving and now winning with authority. She won last time out and has been running consistently well over the last 6 starts, clearly progressive at 4yo. The tongue-tie addition suggests the yard are trying to sharpen her up further, and O'Meara's operation is strong with speed types at this trip. Draw 1 in a 15-runner 5f sprint isn't ideal, but with early pace to her inside and a rider booked who knows the horse, she can overcome it - low draws at Ripon over 5f aren't necessarily a killer, and her class edge (top-rated by 4lb+) should tell in a red-hot but ultimately weaker-on-paper handicap field. Rivals like Hiya Maite, Equity Law, Mighty Magnus and Rock of England are all around OR 80-81 and each has question marks - Hiya Maite hasn't won for a while, Equity Law's placed form is patchy, Mighty Magnus is unproven changing hands of form figures with a blip, Rock of England is finally 141413 but disappointing widest draw. None possess the recent scintillating form of Tiva. She looks the classiest, freshest, most in-form horse in the race and represents a fair-priced favourite rather than an overbet one given the depth of opposition around the OR 74-81 band who are more workmanlike.