May 08 / 18.45 Ripon

18.45

Good To Soft

Dr Keith Howard OBE Memorial Handicap

  • Prize money: £4710.6
  • 0m 5f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
SKY
View Course
Dr Keith Howard OBE Memorial Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

11/2 (Won)

  • Win: £5.10
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 86-828 C

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Returned to form with a second at Musselburgh (5f, good to soft) last month but he failed to back that up over C&D (last of eight) two weeks ago; has something to prove again after that and he's still 3lb higher than for his last win.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

(10)

26th Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

16:15 Catterick

Vince LAmour

9st 0lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Soft-ground C&D winner in 2024; finished down the field in the Silver Cup at Ripon (6f, good) 11 days ago but he ran well at Thirsk (5f, good) the time before and should be happier back at 5f; others preferred, however.

16/1

15th

17

(4)

15th Aug 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

14:55 Ripon

Vince LAmour

9st 4lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Tim Easterby

5f win here off 2lb higher in May; quiet afterwards until reviving with a second of six at Thirsk last week; has a C&D win on his record but rarely seen over 6f in recent times.

16/1

2nd

4

(6)

7th Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

15:40 Thirsk

Vince LAmour

9st 7lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Recorded his fifth turf win when scoring at Ripon (5f, good) in May but he's struggled since and has failed to beat a rival in his last three starts; now 3lb lower than for his last success but he needs a big turnaround.

16/1

5/2

  • Place: £1.20

Form: 937-11 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 6lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Returned from six months off with a win at Wolverhampton and he followed up with another narrow success at Pontefract (5f, good) 17 days ago; 3lb higher than for his front-running win last time but remains feasibly treated and is tactically versatile; key player for yard that won this in 2023 and 2025.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

(3)

31st Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:10 Ripon

Betweenthesticks

9st 5lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

Started his campaign with two wins in April, but he's been up and down since and was beaten 9l behind Our Absent Friends at Catterick last time; needs to bounce back again after that and others are more solid.

14/1

6th

5

(7)

17th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:15 Catterick

Betweenthesticks

9st 12lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

Started his campaign with two wins in April and there have been plenty of solid runs since; should remain competitive but minor money perhaps his best hope.

8/1

4th

1

(5)

5th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 3y

Class 5

16:15 Pontefract

Betweenthesticks

9st 12lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

Won this last year and kicked off this campaign with two wins in a row, the second of them over C&D; he's run well in defeat over C&D on his last two starts and there's every chance he'll again be bang there.

11/2

16/1

  • Place: £2.30

Form: 600-70 CD

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 6lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Prolific winner who is on a dangerous mark but she's been out of sorts since completing a double at Hamilton (5f, good) last August; has plenty to prove and needs to turn things around back in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

(8)

11th Aug 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 7y

Class 6

17:30 Hamilton

Hurt You Never

9st 9lb

J: Matthew Lloyd Slater

T: Adrian Nicholls

Four-time course winner, most recently off a 15lb higher mark last August; has mostly struggled since but she was sparked up by first-time blinkers when beaten a neck at Nottingham (5f, good to firm) eight days ago; has to be respected off the same mark.

5/2

2nd

1

(3)

3rd Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 8y

Class 6

16:10 Nottingham

Hurt You Never

9st 9lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: Adrian Nicholls

Prolific winner down the years, including over C&D last summer, who's regressed sharply in recent times; a few years since she ran at this low a level and that should help, but it will largely hinge on how she responds to wearing headgear for the first time.

5/1

OUR TIP

Form: 16020- D

Last run: 221 days

W: 9st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Handles most ground but all of his four wins have been on good to firm; last success was at Ayr (5f) 12 months ago but that was on his reappearance and he's only 1lb higher for today's return; needs a close look after 221 days off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

(3)

18th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 16y

Class 6

17:00 Chepstow

Le Beau Garcon

9st 9lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Michael & David Easterby

On a career-low mark for a yard that doesn't send many here and he is worth tracking in the market; seems on the downgrade, though, and he hasn't run at beyond 5f since 2023; others make more obvious appeal.

10/1

6th

2

(2)

5th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 3y

Class 5

16:15 Pontefract

Le Beau Garcon

9st 11lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Michael & David Easterby

He's on a career-low mark but has finished down the field on his three starts since making an encouraging return to action at Ripon in May; needs to turn things around.

12/1

9th

2

(3)

28th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:30 Beverley

Le Beau Garcon

9st 13lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Michael & David Easterby

Won 5f Ayr handicap off 6lb higher in May last year (5f, good to firm) but mainly disappointing since, including on last two starts; bit to prove at present.

12/1

7/2

Form: 3-9831 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 9st 7lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Admirable veteran who recorded his 11th win when making all at Nottingham (5f, good) last month; there wasn't much separating the first five but he's only 2lb higher here and should give it another good shot.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

7

(2)

31st Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:10 Ripon

Glory Fighter

9st 5lb

J: David Nolan

T: Paul Midgley

Front-running veteran who has won 11 times; his last success was off 4lb higher at Nottingham (5f, good) in April but he's been disappointing since and needs to get back on track.

20/1

6th

6

(4)

7th Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

15:40 Thirsk

Glory Fighter

9st 4lb

J: David Nolan

T: Paul Midgley

Front-running veteran who has won 11 times including over C&D; got pestered for the lead at Catterick last time but he's been disappointing since his win at Nottingham (5f, good) in April and others are preferred.

8/1

6th

5

(1)

11th Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

19:52 Catterick

Glory Fighter

9st 5lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Paul Midgley

Two of 11 wins have been over C&D; latest success was at Nottingham (5f, good) in April but rather disappointing since; has a bit to prove.

9/1

11/2

Form: 2911-0 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 8lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Ten-time course winner who ended last season with two wins (6f/5f) at Ripon; struggled on Thirsk reappearance last month but he doesn't have a great record when fresh and he's not ruled out back at his favoured track; acts on good to firm and soft.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

(5)

31st Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:10 Ripon

Marks Choice

9st 9lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Gemma Tutty

Ten-time course winner who made a bold bid when runner-up in a 20-runner handicap here (6f, good) 16 days ago; up 3lb but he still looks on a workable mark and is respected back in trip; has won on good to firm and good to soft.

9/2

2nd

20

(17)

15th Aug 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

14:55 Ripon

Marks Choice

8st 13lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Gemma Tutty

Ten-time course winner; he has done enough this year to think he could add to that tally but this may prove too competitive for the veteran.

20/1

6th

3

(1)

1st Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 2y

Class 5

18:00 Doncaster

Marks Choice

9st 10lb

J: Oliver Stammers

T: Gemma Tutty

Ripon specialist (ten wins at that track); run down only by Reigning Profit and Rock Of England when attempting to win the race named in his honour there (5f) 26 days ago; no issue with this return to 6f and has been placed here previously.

10/1

Form: 019-00 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 8st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
Turned things around with a win at Pontefract (5f, good) in October but he's been back in the doldrums in three subsequent runs; has plenty to prove again and needs another bolt from the blue.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

(1)

11th Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 8y

Class 6

16:52 Nottingham

Wrestling Revenue

9st 5lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Ben Haslam

Flexible regarding the going; had mixed results since winning at Pontefract (5f, soft) last October, but he wasn't far away after making the running at Ripon recently and is now 2lb lower than that last winning mark; probably needs a bit more.

13/2

5th

8

(7)

28th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

17:20 Ripon

Wrestling Revenue

8st 10lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Ben Haslam

Well backed when winning a 5f handicap at Pontefract (soft) last October but hasn't matched that since, including beating only one home over C&D three weeks ago; back on the mark he defied at Pontefract but would need to see money for him again.

16/1

12/1

Form: 155688 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 8st 4lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 53

Form & Verdict
Hold-up performer who scored at Wolverhampton (6f, AW) in January but he's not hit the same level since and was always behind after a slow start at Southwell last month; comes with risks attached and he will need a good pace back at this trip; 2lb out of the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(5)

14th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

16:23 Beverley

Hes An Angel

9st 9lb

J: William Pyle

T: Kevin & Lauren Frost

Has won six times on the AW, but 0-15 on turf; creditable second at Wetherby two runs back (5.5f, good to firm) but well beaten last time (6f).

8/1

8th

7

(1)

21st Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

14:05 Pontefract

Hes An Angel

9st 5lb

J: William Pyle

T: Kevin & Lauren Frost

Back in better form (over 5f/5.5f) this month, winning AW classified event then solid second (behind a rival who was on the middle leg of hat-trick) in Wetherby handicap; has won over 6f; 0-14 on turf but holds a fighting chance.

8/1

Non-runners

Impressor

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £16.50
Straight Forecast £13.18
Tricast £53.46
Trifecta £70.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Betweenthesticks

RP RATINGS:

Le Beau Garcon

D Express:

Wrestling Revenue

Daily Mirror:

Vince L'Amour

The Star:

Hurt You Never

POSTDATA:

Impressor

Daily Mail:

Mark's Choice

TOPSPEED:

Betweenthesticks

Telegraph:

Betweenthesticks

The Guardian:

Betweenthesticks

The Sun:

Betweenthesticks

Daily Record:

Betweenthesticks

The Times:

Le Beau Garcon