Ribble River Back To Back Winner
It can take time for horses to really find their feet and this can be for a variety of reasons. Finding the right trip can be a process that takes time, but it can be the defining factor. Ribble River thrived over a stamina test last time out when gaining his first success and he did so once again when going up a furlong to secure the 1m4f Hampton By Hilton Hamilton Park Handicap at Hamilton.
Ribble River had shown ability as a juvenile but always looked the type to do better with another year on his back. After his three runs in Novice/Maiden company, an opening mark of 60 looked very fair. There were a couple of ok runs over 7f and 1m but it was when he stepped up to 10f that Ribble River really looked like a winner waiting. Despite hanging and proving a handful, he ran well to finish third and prompt a step up in trip once again. Now getting into the middle distances, Ribble River got off the mark with a cosy success over 1m3f, really doing his best work late.
For the fourth time in a row, Ribble River would be stepping up in trip with the 3yo set to take on 1m4f for the first time. The rain softened ground would be no issue and Tom Eves was reunited with the gelding. It was a competitive looking contest as 10 runners headed to post. At Hamilton the field need to race up to straight before entering the loop, quite a quirky way to race over 1m4f. As the field galloped away they stayed quite well abreast of each other until they join the loop. Now the rail goes from being on the left to the right and it is here where the jockeys settles into their positions. Tom tucked in just behind the pace, sitting around fourth as they galloped around the loop.
It was a fair tempo set and the field were well bunched up as they swung right handed and towards the top of the straight. As they hit the straight the leaders shunned the far side rail and took the field towards the centre of the track. Ribble River was closer to the stands side as he continued to track the pace.
The handicapper would have been very pleased with himself as the field raced down past the 3f. There were 5 or 6 of the field spread across the track vying for the lead. Tom had let his mount slide through the join in and was looking dangerous as the finish began to loom. Although Tom was starting to work away his mount still looked to be full of running, so too were plenty of his rivals.
Between the 2f pole and the 1f pole, the race changed and it was Ribble River and the favourite who started to get on top. Entering the final furlong the pair started to pull each other along and they were pulling away from the rest. As they hi the rising ground the front two were neck and neck, battling hard. Ribble River just edged into the lead with 100 yards to run and looked to just hold the advantage. Unfortunately he was up against a tough adversary who wouldn’t back down and found a little bit more. The pair battled to the line and flashed past the line together. Whilst it was close and a photo called, Ribble River looked to have done enough, which was quickly confirmed.
It was great to see Ribble River back up his win with another one and he is thriving for the stiffer stamina tests. On both his wins the latter stages were his best and this does suggest that he may even get a touch further. With he ground proving to be no issue, there could be more to come from the 3yo this autumn but he could go on again next year.