WEDNESDAY EVENING SELECTION

RIPON 8.10 ... CITY OF THE KINGS @ 33/1 S.James B.O.G. & Sportingbet 25/1 elsewhere.
Exit Smiling was one I put forward as a selection last time he ran @ 10/1 and he finished 3rd.
He won this last season on soft and was 2nd in this event the year before on gd/firm.
Has a 7lb claimer on board which puts him around the same mark as those efforts but is vulnerable to anything progressive.

Acrostic, Capucci and City Of Kings fit that profile and the later gets the vote as he has winning form on fast ground in races that are working out well.
It's interesting they have kept this colt in its entire (no doubt for breeding purposes) and has ran all his best races at this trip.
He finished last season on a downward note but his final outing was drawn out of it and his penultimate outing was on soft ground.
His run at Newcastle last July he got an interrupted run up the rails when making his move and finished fastest to go down less than 2 length in the circumstances.
That race was ran nearly 6 seconds faster than the event Kings point ran in at the same track/distance in April on very similar going so should have every chance of bettering him and being placed at least.
His early days saw him beat last seasons Cambridgeshire 5th Yadree and St Leger winner Conduit. Although Conduit is more of a staying type it was an extremely good effort.
Normally needs a run, but has stamina for further so this mile a good starting point for the season and has what look his ideal conditions.
Silvestre de Sousa has 4 wins and a place in the last 2 weeks (25%) and this looks one of the better horses from the yard.

Lack of a recent run suggests a 1/2 point E/W @ 33/1
City Of The Kings

plus 2.8 points

FULL RESULT>>