Today / 17.50 Ripon

17.50

Good

AJA Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap

  • Prize money: £3476.9
  • 1m 2f 190y
  • Class 6
  • 10 runners
SKY
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AJA Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

Form: 228575 C BF

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Colt

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Cashed in on much-reduced mark when justifying support at Musselburgh (1m1f, good) in April; several creditable efforts since including when a 2l fifth of 11 at Ayr (1m2f, good to soft) last time; should be in the mix again and he's versatile ground-wise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

(11)

10th Aug 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

16:45 Ayr

Spirit Catcher

9st 13lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Philip Kirby

Bounced back to form with win off much-reduced mark at Musselburgh (1m1f, good) in April and came second on his next two outings; not seen to best effect when held up in steadily run race at Chester last month, but has quickly dropped back to a workable mark; high on the list.

8/1

Form: 0196-7

Last run: 133 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Sprang a surprise when winning at Redcar (1m2f, good; 25-1) last October but she's struggled in three subsequent runs; only 2lb higher than for that last success but she has something to prove after another break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

(4)

20th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 1y

Class 5

16:50 Redcar

Jam Lass

8st 11lb

J: Barry McHugh

T: Peter Niven

Sprang a surprise when winning over C&D (good; 25-1) last October and didn't go on from that in two runs on AW the following month; cannot discount back at this track.

20/1

2

(7)

1st Nov 2025

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 6

15:35 Newcastle (AW)

Jam Lass

9st 13lb

J: David Nolan

T: Peter Niven

Improved form upped to 1m2f in her second handicap when scoring from off the pace at Redcar (good; 25-1) two weeks ago; up 4lb but she beat clear second last time and is open to more progress at this trip; key player.

5/1

OUR TIP

Form: 412845 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 1lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 61

Form & Verdict
Added to his Musselburgh win last spring when scoring at Southwell (1m3f, AW) in May; mixed results in four subsequent runs but he didn't get the breaks when fifth at Southwell last time; that was an eye-catching effort and he could be dangerous back on turf.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

(4)

6th Aug 2026

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 6

21:00 Southwell (AW)

Its Only Fun

9st 6lb

J: Jonny Peate

T: Sara Ender

Two wins, including one over this C&D in May off a 5lb lower mark than today's; respectable effort when fourth behind younger rivals over 1m6f at Southwell ten days ago and won't mind this drop back in trip; could go well.

10/1

4th

3

(4)

27th Jul 2026

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 5

14:30 Southwell (AW)

Its Only Fun

9st 9lb

J: Jonny Peate

T: Sara Ender

Resumed winning ways over 1m3f here in May; turned in a rare poor run with eighth of 12 in 1m4f handicap at Newcastle last time; the sort to bounce back, though.

14/1

Form: 155451 C

Last run: 9 days

W: 10st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
Acts on good to firm and soft; all five wins have been on turf and he's scored three times since May including at Redcar (1m2f, good) last Saturday; that was a narrow success but he's only 2lb higher and he has won at Ripon in the past; key player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

9

(2)

22nd Aug 2026

Good

1m 2f 1y

Class 5

18:00 Redcar

Woodleigh

9st 4lb

J: Oisin McSweeney

T: Roger Fell

Recorded his second win over C&D (good to firm) in May and followed up at Doncaster (1m, good to soft) the following month; has been in a battle with the handicapper since and probably needs to come down a few pounds.

8/1

5th

4

(13)

15th Aug 2026

Good

1m 1f 170y

Class 6

17:05 Ripon

Woodleigh

9st 12lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Roger Fell

Course winner (6f); wins at Redcar (1m2f, good to firm) and Doncaster (1m, good to soft) this summer but he has come up short on his last three runs; needs more to take this.

12/1

Form: 601340

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 58

Form & Verdict
Ended a long losing run when scoring at Beverley (1m2f, good to firm) last month; respectable efforts in next two starts and he had an excuse here last time, when he got hampered by a faller; now only 1lb higher than for that last success and he's not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

3

(4)

15th Aug 2026

Good

1m 1f 170y

Class 6

17:05 Ripon

Kitsune Power

9st 13lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Tim Easterby

Successful at Beverley (1m2f, good to firm) last month and that has been followed by two solid runs, the latest at Beverley on Tuesday; one of three runners for Tim Easterby.

13/2

4th

7

(2)

12th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 207y

Class 5

16:15 Beverley

Kitsune Power

9st 5lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Snapped a losing run when over C&D last month and the race didn't go smoothly for him when third at Redcar; considered.

13/2

Form: 1-0755

Last run: 47 days

W: 10st 12lb

7 yo Colt

OR: 58

Form & Verdict
Ended his 2025 campaign with wins at Musselburgh (1m4f, good to soft) and Hamilton (1m4f, soft), but he's struggled this season including on his stable debut last month; would be a positive if the forecast rain arrives but he needs a big turnaround.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(4)

15th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 13y

Class 5

14:10 Catterick

Cougar

10st 8lb

J: Miss Sophia Watson

T: Michael Chapman

Ended his 2025 campaign with a pair of 1m4f wins in Scotland on good to soft/soft; well below par in three comeback outings this spring and sold out of Iain Jardine's yard for £3,500 last month; all turf starts on good or softer; a watching brief is advised.

16/1

5th

4

(1)

21st May 2026

Good

1m 4f 104y

Class 5

17:00 Musselburgh

Cougar

8st 13lb

J: Mohammed Tabti

T: Iain Jardine

Ended his 2025 campaign with a pair of 1m4f wins, the first of them here and by a wide margin; two heavy defeats this spring but he's the type to pop up soon, perhaps when faced with some slower ground.

8/1

Form: 853212 CD

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 11lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 57

Form & Verdict
In-form 6yo who won under Charli Parker at Pontefract (1m2f, good to firm) early this month before a creditable second in another amateur jockeys' handicap at Catterick (1m4f, good) two weeks ago; remains feasibly treated off the same mark as last time and he should make another bold bid; cheekpieces reapplied.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

7

(4)

17th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 13y

Class 5

14:15 Catterick

Star Start

10st 3lb

J: Miss Charli Parker

T: Ruth Carr

Chased home Stellarmasterpiece in this race last year having won a 1m2f amateur riders' handicap at Pontefract 12 days earlier; repeated his win at Pontefract 12 days ago and he should be in the thick of it again.

7/2

1st

4

(6)

5th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 5y

Class 6

14:45 Pontefract

Star Start

10st 11lb

J: Miss Charli Parker

T: Ruth Carr

Held up when winning this last year (good to firm) off 4lb higher mark; returns in good form after being placed twice at Beverley (1m2f, good to firm) on his last two starts; major contender.

2/1

Form: -89957 D

Last run: 41 days

W: 10st 10lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 56

Form & Verdict
Runaway winner at Wolverhampton (1m4f, AW) last November, but he's struggled since and was tailed off on his stable debut at Wolverhampton (1m6f) last month; now only 1lb higher than for his last success but he needs a major revival back in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

(7)

21st Jul 2026

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 6

18:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Three Yorkshiremen

11st 0lb

J: Miss M Boucher

T: Jack Jones

Hit with a sharp rise in the weights after running away with a 0-55 here last backend and has struggled since, including in one go over this far; has moved yards yet again (new trainer also runs Shopaholic) which needs to have helped.

4/1

5th

13

(1)

10th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 6

20:40 Kempton (AW)

Three Yorkshiremen

9st 3lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: Ivan Furtado

Took this in 2025 for Michael Wigham; also won for Barry Brennan at Wolverhampton in November but well below par in three runs for that yard this season; starts out for another stable here with something to prove.

16/1

Form: 9-2076

Last run: 26 days

W: 10st 10lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 56

Form & Verdict
Runner-up at Beverley (8.4f, good to firm) on stable debut in April, but he's not come close to that form in three runs since and his overall record is now 0-23; opposable in another switch of headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

(5)

5th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 5y

Class 6

14:45 Pontefract

Glitter Code

11st 0lb

J: Miss Nell Biker

T: Edward Bethell

22-race maiden (placed at up to 11.5f) whose better efforts over the past 12 months would give him each-way claims; needs to bounce back after a couple of below-par AW efforts.

5/1

7th

3

(13)

26th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 42y

Class 6

17:10 Newcastle (AW)

Glitter Code

11st 1lb

J: Miss Nell Biker

T: Edward Bethell

Second five times at up to 1m2f, including in first blinkers at Beverley in April on yard debut; heavy defeat over 1m4f four weeks ago sees a visor return today; 0-21 tally (0-5 on AW) is probably the bottom line.

16/1

Form: 552047

Last run: 4 days

W: 10st 3lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 49

Form & Verdict
Returned to form with a close second in an amateur jockeys' handicap at Catterick (1m4f, good to firm) last month but she's been back in the doldrums since; has plenty to prove again and her sole Flat win was in 2024.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

(9)

27th Aug 2026

Good

1m 1f 0y

Class 5

14:00 Carlisle

On The Bubble

10st 0lb

J: Miss Kayla Ruddy

T: Gary Rutherford

Sole Flat win came at Redcar in May 2024; was out of the handicap when running well to finish second in similar event at Catterick (1m4f, good to firm) under Kayla Ruddy last month; hasn't matched that in two subsequent starts but the return to this sphere may help; not discounted.

20/1

4th

2

(4)

4th Aug 2026

Good

1m 4f 13y

Class 6

16:15 Catterick

On The Bubble

9st 7lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Gary Rutherford

1-27 on Flat turf, the win coming on soft ground over 1m at Redcar in May 2024 (first-time hood); gave it a good go from the front when runner-up over this C&D last month but she failed to beat a rival home at Ayr (1m2f) two weeks ago; needs to bounce back.

14/1

Betting Forcast

4/1 Spirit Catcher, 16/1 Jam Lass, 15/2 Its Only Fun, 3/1 Woodleigh, 10/1 Kitsune Power, 16/1 Cougar, 100/30 Star Start, 9/1 Three Yorkshiremen, 8/1 Glitter Code, 33/1 On The Bubble

Verdict

Preference is Roger Fell’s versatile 5yo WOODLEIGH, who has won three times since May and produced a strong finish when landing a Class 5 event at Redcar last Saturday. Star Start, who has had a win and two seconds in amateur riders’ events recently, is feared most ahead of Spirit Catcher and It’s Only Fun.[David Moon]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Woodleigh

RP RATINGS:

Star Start

The Times:

Jam Lass

D Express:

Spirit Catcher

The Star:

Cougar

POSTDATA:

Woodleigh

Telegraph:

Woodleigh

Daily Mail:

Woodleigh

Daily Record:

Woodleigh

The Guardian:

Star Start

Daily Mirror:

Star Start

The Sun:

Star Start