Setting the Scene: A Proper Summer Test at Ripon
Now, I know what you're thinking — Tom, you mad jumps obsessive, what are you doing sniffing around a flat Listed race in the middle of summer? Fair point, fair point. But listen, a Class 1 prize worth £60,000 on a Friday afternoon at one of Yorkshire's most underrated tracks deserves a proper look, and the Davies Insurance Solutions Gala Stakes over that stiff 1m 1f 209y trip at Ripon has thrown up a cracking little puzzle this year. Six runners, a decent spread of ratings, and a going question that could turn the whole thing on its head. Pull up a stool — let's get into it.
The Gala Stakes sits nicely in the summer Listed calendar as a genuine test of all-round ability. That trip — just shy of a mile and a quarter — is long enough to expose any horse that's merely fast but short of stamina, and Ripon's undulating track with its stiff finish makes sure there's nowhere to hide. This isn't a race for the faint-hearted or the flashy. You want a horse that stays, handles a bit of cut, and has the class to grind it out. Keep that in mind as we go through the field. You can see the full Ripon racecard for the complete picture on the day.
Going & Draw: The Ground Could Be The Making Of This Race
Right, let's talk ground first because it matters here more than most places. The soil moisture reading came in at 43% at midday Tuesday — that's telling you the ground is on the easy side of good, possibly nudging good-to-soft by Friday if we get any rain between now and then. Ripon's track holds moisture reasonably well given its position, and a bit of cut in the ground will absolutely suit the stayers and penalise anything that wants lightning-fast going.
As for the draw — six runners over this trip at Ripon means the draw is less of a lottery than it would be in a big-field sprint, but low draws have a marginal edge on the round course here, particularly when the ground is on the softer side and rail position matters early. Draws one and two look handy enough, while the wide five and six berths mean those horses will need to work a little harder to find their position. Nothing insurmountable, but worth factoring in.
Contender-by-Contender Breakdown
Sallaal (4yo, Roger Varian, Ray Dawson, Draw 4) — Rating 119
On ratings, Sallaal is the class act in this field, and you can't argue with a 119 mark when the next best is 114. Roger Varian has been in cracking form and knows exactly how to place a horse like this. The hood goes on — headgear H — which suggests connections want him switched off early and delivered late, and Ray Dawson is more than capable of executing that kind of ride. The distance flag is ticked, which is reassuring, and from draw four he's bang in the middle of the field with options. The only question mark is whether Varian is using this as a stepping stone to something bigger — if the horse is spot on, he wins this. If he's 90%, he might still win this. The danger is if the ground comes up softer than expected and he's not entirely comfortable in it. Watch the market.
Persica (5yo, Richard Hannon, Ryan Moore, Draw 2) — Rating 114
Here's your value angle, and I'm not going to be shy about it. Persica ticks every box for this specific race. Course winner. Distance winner. Richard Hannon in good nick. And then — oh, then — you notice that Ryan Moore takes the ride. Moore doesn't hop on horses at Listed level for the fun of it on a Friday in Yorkshire. When Moore's on board, something is usually expected. The draw of two is ideal given our going thoughts, he gets a handy low berth and can sit close to the pace without burning petrol. At a rating of 114 he's 5lb inferior to Sallaal on paper, but horses that know this track and this trip can make up that kind of gap. This is my idea of a bet.
Royal Rhyme (6yo, K.R. Burke, Clifford Lee, Draw 6) — Rating 113
Karl Burke saddles two in this race, which is always interesting — it usually means one is the main hope and the other is making up the numbers, but with Burke you can never be entirely sure. Royal Rhyme is the older, more experienced of the two Burke runners, wearing a tongue-tie and drawn widest of all in stall six. Course and distance winner, so the form is relevant, but Clifford Lee will need to work to get him into a good position from the outside draw. If the ground is genuinely testing, he might stay on into the places, but I'd be surprised if Burke's primary target here isn't Boiling Point.
Boiling Point (5yo, K.R. Burke, James Doyle, Draw 5) — Rating 112
And here's the Burke number one, I'd wager. James Doyle takes the ride, and when Burke sends out two runners and puts Doyle on one of them, that's your guide. Distance winner, rated 112, drawn five — not ideal from a draw perspective but Doyle is polished enough to deal with it. The concern is that 112 might just be a shade below what's required to beat Sallaal and Persica at their best, but if either of those two underperform for any reason, Boiling Point is right there to capitalise. Each-way at a price? Possibly.
Dividend (4yo, Newland & Insole, Rossa Ryan, Draw 3) — Rating 112
The interesting combination of Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole — more associated with jumping in Newland's case, which catches my eye — sends out Dividend, and Rossa Ryan takes the ride. Course winner, rated 112, drawn three. He's not without a chance, but I'd need to see stronger evidence that he can match the top two on ratings before getting too excited. Ryan is a fine jockey and will give him every chance, but this might be a race too far in terms of class.
Glacius (3yo, Hugo Palmer, Billy Loughnane, Draw 1) — Rating 106
The youngster of the party and the lowest-rated in the field at 106, Glacius gets the plum draw in stall one and Hugo Palmer is no mug when it comes to placing a three-year-old in a mixed-age Listed race. The age allowance helps, and Palmer clearly thinks the horse is capable. No form flags to speak of for course or distance, so there's an element of the unknown here — but at the right price, he could outrun his odds if the ground comes up testing and he's a natural stayer. One for the exotics, perhaps.
My Selection: Persica Each-Way, Sallaal To Win
Right, here's where I plant my flag. Sallaal is the most likely winner — the ratings don't lie and Varian has him in good shape. Back him to win if you must, but the price won't be generous.
My real interest, though, is Persica each-way at what should be a decent price. Course winner, distance winner, low draw, softer ground likely to suit, and Ryan Moore in the saddle for Hannon. That combination doesn't happen by accident. If Sallaal has any chink in his armour on the day — whether that's the ground, the trip, or simply not being at his absolute peak — Persica is the horse most likely to pounce. He's my each-way selection for the Davies Insurance Solutions Gala Stakes.
Boiling Point is a solid each-way backup if you want to cover the Burke angle, and keep a small eye on Glacius if the market drifts him — Palmer has a habit of producing a well-prepared youngster when you least expect it.
Who is the favourite for the Davies Insurance Solutions Gala Stakes Listed Race?
Based on official ratings, Sallaal (Roger Varian, rated 119) is expected to go off as the market favourite for the Davies Insurance Solutions Gala Stakes at Ripon on 3 July 2026. He holds a clear ratings advantage over the rest of the field and is trained by one of the sharpest operations in British flat racing. However, Persica at a bigger price represents the most compelling each-way alternative given his course and distance form and the booking of Ryan Moore.
How does the going affect the Davies Insurance Solutions Gala Stakes at Ripon?
With soil moisture at 43% on Tuesday, the ground is likely to be on the easy side of good — possibly good-to-soft — by race time on Friday. This will favour horses with proven stamina and those that handle a bit of cut, and could be a slight negative for any runner that ideally wants quick ground. Ripon's undulating track and stiff finish already tests stamina, so softer conditions amplify that effect. Persica and Royal Rhyme both have course form to suggest they handle the track in varying conditions.
Is Ripon a good track for front-runners in the Gala Stakes trip?
Over 1m 1f 209y at Ripon, front-runners are not automatically favoured — the stiff, uphill finish tends to find out horses that have gone too hard early. Horses ridden with a bit of cover and delivered with a late run tend to have the edge, particularly when the ground is on the easy side. This plays into the hands of a horse like Sallaal, who is expected to be ridden with restraint under Ray Dawson, and Persica, who Moore will likely drop in and produce with a well-timed challenge.
