In the Weatherbys Hamilton Handicap (3.55) at Ripon on Tuesday, Off Art remains 6lb higher in the weights than when winning at Ayr as a three-year-old, but drops into 0-95 company for the first time since and may be ready for a return to the winners’ enclosure. Tim Easterby’s lightly-raced five-year-old has run creditably in defeat on both starts this season, most recently when seventh of eighteen, beaten 7½ lengths, behind Alfred Hutchinson at York last month.
The winner again ran well when runner-up, off a 4lb higher mark, in another well-contested handicap, over 7 furlongs, on the Knavesmire on Saturday, so the form has a solid look to it. Strictly speaking, a line through Sound Advice suggests that Off Art has his work cut out to beat Dubai Dynamo at these weights but, while Ruth Carr’s charge is a grand old campaigner, he is ten years old now and consistency has never really been his strong suit.
Off Art finished fifth in the Lincoln on his reappearance last season, before running a lifeless race in the Thirsk Hunt Cup, in which he stumbled early on. He’s clearly had his problems, but seems to retain plenty of ability and should represent some value on good to firm going, on which he’s recorded two of his three career wins.
Selection: Ripon 3.55 Off Art to win