June 18 / 19.00 Ripon

19.00

Good

In Memory Of Jerome Connelly Maiden Stakes (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4710.6
  • 0m 6f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
SKY
View Course
In Memory Of Jerome Connelly Maiden Stakes (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

15/8 (Won)

  • Win: £1.62
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 092-44

Last run: 4 days

W: 10st 0lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Closest to winning for Iain Jardine at Newcastle (6f AW, beaten a neck) last December; solid effort on first start for this trainer (off a five-month absence) in a Class 3 at York on Saturday (7f, good to firm; fourth, 33-1); tongue-tie back on, and this looks a suitable spot.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

20

(22)

23rd May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:00 York

Modern Times

9st 2lb

J: Oisin McSweeney

T: Tim Easterby

Won a 6f Ripon maiden last June and stays 7f; 0-13 in handicaps, however, and others present stronger cases despite his career-low mark.

14/1

5th

8

(4)

8th May 2026

Good To Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

19:15 Ripon

Modern Times

9st 0lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Won a C&D maiden (good) last June on his second start for Tim Easterby; returned after a lengthy absence with a creditable fifth here (6f, good to soft) last month and ran another solid race at Pontefract last time; still looks on a workable mark and he shouldn't be far away.

5/1

3rd

5

(6)

29th Apr 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

15:58 Pontefract

Modern Times

8st 13lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Ripon maiden win (6f, good) last June on his second start for Tim Easterby; shaped nicely on his return from ten months off back at Ripon two weeks ago, poorly positioned but running the fastest final 2f split to snatch a never-dangerous fifth; should be sharper today and he's interesting off the same mark.

3/1

20/1

  • Place: £5.40

Form: 4

Last run: 6 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Weakened on last week's Yarmouth debut (6f, good to firm; fourth, 33-1, beaten 11l); we mightn't necessarily see the best of him until he makes the switch to handicapping over longer distances; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

(8)

3rd Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

19:42 Ripon

Magic Boy

9st 6lb

J: Faye McManoman

T: Nigel Tinkler

Runner-up to an odds-on favourite in a C&D maiden (40-1) last June and mostly competitive since; made the breakthrough in a tight finish at Redcar (7f, Class 5, good; 28-1) last November; 2lb higher for seasonal reappearance, representing an in-form trainer.

8/1

1st

12

(8)

4th Nov 2025

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

13:25 Redcar

Magic Boy

9st 6lb

J: Faye McManoman

T: Nigel Tinkler

Shaped okay in his qualifying races but his handicap debut at Catterick (7f, good) was a backward step and went off 20-1.

20/1

4/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 6444-3

Last run: 50 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Fair level of juvenile form - RPR's in the 70's - over 6f-1m; underwent wind surgery, and gelded, prior to reappearing in a Brighton maiden (6f, good to firm; third, beaten 6l) in April; probably needs a bit more to make the breakthrough.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

(5)

18th Jun 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

19:00 Ripon

El Madar

9st 7lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Charles Hills

Fair level of juvenile form - RPR's in the 70's - over 6f-1m; underwent wind surgery, and gelded, prior to reappearing in a Brighton maiden (6f, good to firm; third, beaten 6l) in April; probably needs a bit more to make the breakthrough.

4/1

3rd

2

(1)

29th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 215y

Class 5

14:55 Brighton

El Madar

9st 5lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: Charles Hills

took keen hold, prominent, outpaced when hung left over 1f out, weakened final 110yds

11/2

2

(1)

29th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 215y

Class 5

14:55 Brighton

El Madar

9st 5lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: Charles Hills

Fair form on all four 2yo runs, most recently when fourth over 1m at Goodwood (good to soft) last August; had gelding and wind operations in the autumn; not sure to benefit from today's drop back to 6f but still considered.

11/2

Form: 04

Last run: 8 days

W: 10st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Slowly away before making late headway when fourth of ten at Catterick (5f, good; 11-1) last week; the return to 6f should suit, and this apparent late developer (unraced for Roger Varian) could yet have more to offer; soon eligible for a handicap mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(4)

18th Jun 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

19:00 Ripon

Storm Passage

10st 0lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: David O’Meara

Slowly away before making late headway when fourth of ten at Catterick (5f, good; 11-1) last week; the return to 6f should suit, and this apparent late developer (unraced for Roger Varian) could yet have more to offer; soon eligible for a handicap mark.

16/1

2

(5)

10th Jun 2025

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

17:40 Catterick

Storm Passage

9st 11lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: David O’Meara

50-1, never-dangerous tenth of 13 at Doncaster (6f, good to firm) on his debut in April; drops in trip and this son of Night Of Thunder could still do better in the longer term.

16/1

5th
6 (6)
Pal Joey

9/4

Form: 93

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bettered his low-key Carlisle debut when running-on into third behind the unbeaten Remmooz at Doncaster (7f, good; 150-1) recently; this drop back to 6f mightn't necessarily suit but equally, this is a more realistic option; one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

13

(5)

17th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 7y

Class 3

17:15 Hamilton

Pal Joey

8st 7lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Ben Haslam

Found a Newcastle handicap run to suit when winning over this trip in January but has otherwise done most racing over further; the early impact of the visor may have worn off now and he was inclined to pull hard when well held back on turf a month ago.

33/1

16th

4

(6)

18th Apr 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

14:47 Thirsk

Pal Joey

9st 6lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Ben Haslam

Ran on well to win a 5f handicap at Newcastle in January; not quite so good back there six days later but he is feasibly weighted and 6f on good ground no problem; stable operating at a fine strike-rate in 2026.

12/1

7th

1

(3)

6th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

18:00 Newcastle (AW)

Pal Joey

10st 0lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Ben Haslam

Refitted with a tongue-strap when back to form to land C&D handicap six days ago; needs to back it up under a 5lb penalty with headgear retained.

9/4

Form: 6-9

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Soundly beaten both starts, looking every inch the work in progress at Catterick (6f, good to soft; 150-1) recently; the least likely winner; look elsewhere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

(1)

7th May 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 6

19:30 Southwell (AW)

Little Beck Annie

9st 3lb

J: Mark Winn

T: Peter Niven

Six-race maiden who shaped as if she would appreciate the return to this trip when fourth in a classified event at Thirsk (6f, good) 251 days ago after stumbling leaving the stalls; absent since.

12/1

4th

9

(3)

29th Aug 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

17:08 Thirsk

Little Beck Annie

9st 6lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Peter Niven

Down the field in three 6f maidens; no improvement for the step up to 7.4f in a couple of Beverley handicaps this summer; drops in grade with Paul Mulrennan booked; not discounted.

10/1

6th

6

(8)

13th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 96y

Class 6

15:45 Beverley

Little Beck Annie

9st 0lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Peter Niven

Didn't show a great deal in three maidens and was never involved when seventh of 11 on handicap debut over C&D (good to firm; 33-1; Mavetheforcebewivu fourth) last month; one of the least exposed in the field but improvement is required.

12/1

OUR TIP

40/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
First foal from a French 1m2f winner (RPR 94) who was closely related to the Australian 6.5f Group 2 winner Home Of The Brave; gelded, so may benefit from this introduction to competitive action.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

7

(4)

30th Sep 2025

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 6

17:00 Newcastle (AW)

Ballitore

9st 3lb

J: Harrison Shaw

T: Phillip Makin

0-7; fifth of eight at Hamilton (8.5f, good to soft; first-time cheekpieces) earlier in the month but he was 12l behind Hashtagnotions at Beverley (8.5f, soft) 13 days ago; steps up in trip (out of a French 1m2f winner) on this return to AW.

16/1

5

(5)

17th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 0f 100y

Class 6

16:18 Beverley

Ballitore

9st 6lb

J: Harrison Shaw

T: Phillip Makin

Dam won over 1m2f and he fared better for tackling this longer trip, in first-time cheekpieces, a fortnight ago; still to finish placed and will need another forward step if he's to get off the mark though.

12/1

5th

6

(4)

3rd Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 0f 68y

Class 6

19:15 Hamilton

Ballitore

9st 4lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Phillip Makin

Lightly raced 3yo whose dam won over 1m2f and he's going beyond 7f for the first time today; cheekpieces are another possible source of improvement but he needs to take a major step forward from his two handicap runs.

20/1

Form: 6-4

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
200,000gns yearling, shaped okay despite fluffing the start on Kempton debut (7f) last October; somewhat of a disappointment when returning from a 232-day absence at Lingfield (7.5f, good to firm; first run gelded) recently; still early days, so shouldn't be dismissed yet.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

(3)

28th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 3y

Class 4

16:23 Yarmouth

Travel Agent

9st 0lb

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: Adam Kirby

Quickly clicked into gear for this yard with an eyeshield fitted, scoring twice on AW in April before close second at Lingfield (also 6f, good) last Monday; due for a 1lb nudge in future and he can't be ignored.

4/1

2nd

6

(6)

18th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

16:22 Lingfield

Travel Agent

9st 6lb

J: William Carson

T: Adam Kirby

Has got it together for his current (third) yard since fitted with an eyeshield; needs to improve on previous turf efforts but a 3lb rise looks fair and he has a decent chance of completing the hat-trick.

2/1

1st

3

(5)

27th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 6f 1y

Class 5

14:45 Lingfield (AW)

Travel Agent

9st 7lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Adam Kirby

Came good for new stable at third attempt, overcoming some traffic issues before winning readily at Wolverhampton (6f) ten days ago; 4lb rise does not look excessive and this C&D also suits; good chance.

5/4

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £26.10
Straight Forecast £37.18
Trifecta £167.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Modern Times

Daily Mail:

El Madar

The Times:

Pal Joey

NEWMARKET:

Travel Agent

Telegraph:

Pal Joey

The Star:

Travel Agent

Daily Mirror:

El Madar

Daily Record:

El Madar

RP RATINGS:

Modern Times

TOPSPEED:

Modern Times

POSTDATA:

Modern Times

THE NORTH:

Modern Times

The Guardian:

Modern Times

D Express:

Modern Times

The Sun:

Modern Times