Caulfield plays host to a strong Saturday card, with the G3 Bletchingly Stakes the feature of the afternoon.

The track is currently rated a soft 6 and with no rain predicted until Saturday night, participants will be met with an improving racing surface.

The rail is out 6m the entire circuit and the inside could chop up with the wet track.

Caulfield Race 1 Tip #6 River Ribble $3.10

This colt has furnished into a very nice late season 2YO. He won at his seasonal debut as he returned from a spell.

The stable has always had a very strong opinion of him and there was strong money for him to win on his debut.

He was nailed late by the promising Merchant Prince but the run had plenty of merit.

He ran well in a G3 Blue Diamond Prelude behind Lofty Strike and was then subsequently sent for a spell.

Since the spell, he has definitely matured and improved.

His first-up win last start over 1200m was strong visually, and he backed it up with a last 400m sectional that was 3.5 lengths quicker than the benchmark average.

Basically untouched inside the final furlong, he won by 3 lengths on the line and also crucially ticked the box of being able to handle a wet track.

Finding similar conditions here today, I think he can improve again second up with added fitness.

He is drawn nicely and can push forward under J McNeil.

There could be some early Spring black-type targets in mind for him and a bold showing here puts him right into contention for those events.