Pick of the Pundits: Experts hoping for a favour from Eric at Ripon

Rob Wright of The Times is something of a phenomenon in the Racing Post’s Naps Challenge – he’s consistently great.

While Wright currently sits third in the table providing a positive return of £13.95 for a £1 stake this season, The Times’ top racing writer is outperforming the favourites this season.

Wright’s record for all races this year has seen him tip 1620 winners in in 6085 races and while the favourite has won on 2489 of the 6971 races this season, Wright’s turnover is 94.68 per cent compared to 92.95% for the favourite.

This month Wright has tipped 832 horses and has been successful with 236 of those, returning a £49.77 return for a £1 stake.

The favourite has won 325 of the 937 races this month but is returning minus £46.27 for a £1 stake, and this is relevant because Wright is taking on the favourite with his nap today.

17:15 Ripon: Brasingaman Eric – 3/1

Simple Jim (5/2) and Brasingaman Eric are battling for favouritism in this Class 6 handicap and David O’Meara’s Simple Jim is just edging it.

This two mile race requires plenty of stamina and Simple Jim has that in abundance having raced seven times over two miles, winning once and finishing second twice.

Bransingaman Eric is making his first step-up to two miles but won over 1m4f at the start of July and then won his last start at Carlisle a fortnight ago over 1m6f.

That win at Carlisl means Bransigaman Eric carries 4lbs more than Simple Jim today and that could prove crucial in this battle for the £2,264 prize.

However, it’s the bottom weight Spice Bar who is the most appealing and Declan Carroll is sending his seven-year-old out on to a flat course for the second time this season having won twice in three starts over hurdles.

The trip will be no problem for Spice Bar and after his second place at Chepstow earlier in the month, he looks ahead of the handicapper and is a big price at 6/1.