Ribblesdale Stakes Betting Guide

Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2) (1m 4f)

A fillies race over 1m4f, the Ribblesdale is a Group 2 event and is a stepping stone for the middle distance horses that ran in the Epsom Oaks and then go onto run in the big fillies race at York in August.

Some trainers miss Epsom due to the closeness of the races and will take this as it is usually less competitive and then aim for races in the autumn but five previous winners had ran in the fillies classic a fortnight earlier.

The Godolphin operation won the race two years running in 2009 and 2010 after a baron spell by their standards and the race has not been good to Sir Michael Stoute who hasn’t won the race since 2003. The Irish have also struggled in the this race in recent seasons but the Jim Bolger trained Banampire took the 2011 race, and an Irish double was completed in 2012 when Dermot Weld's Princess Highway enjoyed a 6 length victory.

Although only two favourites have won the race in recent times, it is a bit misleading as those to the fore in the betting have actually won the race more often than not, the exception being in 2005 and 2006 when big outsiders were successful.

Ribblesdale Stakes Previous Winners Since 2001

2012 Princess Highway 17/2 Weld, D K

2011 Banimpire 3/1 Bolger, J S

2010 Hibaayeb 4/1 Suroor, Saeed Bin

2009 Flying Cloud (IRE) 5/1 Suroor, Saeed Bin

2008 Michita (USA) 100/30 Gosden, J H M

2007 Silkwood 4/1 Jarvis, M A

2006 Mont Etoile (IRE) 25/1 Haggas, W J

2005 Thakafaat (IRE) 22/1 Dunlop, J L

2004 Punctilious 9/2 Suroor, Saeed Bin

2003 Spanish Sun (USA) 9/2 Stoute, Sir Michael

2002 Irresistible Jewel (IRE) 12/1 Weld, D K