August 19 / 14.10 Ripon

14.10

Good

William Hill Ripon Hornblower EBF Novice Stakes (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £15288
  • 0m 6f 0y
  • Class 2
  • 8 runners
SKY
View Course
William Hill Ripon Hornblower EBF Novice Stakes (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.63
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 21

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 8lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Built on his promising 6f debut second when going one better in 5f Sandown maiden (good to soft) nine days ago; it's likely there's more to come from him, for a stable knocking in the winners on a regular basis.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(12)

14th Oct 2023

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

13:15 York

Government Call

9st 3lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

in touch with leaders

14/1

8th

5

(1)

9th Sep 2023

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:25 Kempton (AW)

Government Call

9st 3lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

Going the right way after wins at Sandown (5f) and Ripon (6f; again good to soft) but probably needs a fair chunk of improvement to bring up the hat-trick; on the plus side, his stable's 2yos tend to improve with racing and he's well drawn.

8/1

11/4

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 15 C

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Filly

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
£135,000 buy this April who made a successful debut over 5f here last month; caught wide and certainly not disgraced when fifth in a valuable conditions race at Glorious Goodwood (5f, soft again); draw is possibly not ideal but she remains capable of better now stepping up to 6f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

(4)

4th Oct 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:56 Redcar

Tropical Island

9st 0lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Richard Fahey

Made the running and sprang 40-1 shock in Listed race at Galway (7f, soft) in July but has run poorly in another Listed event over 6f at Pontefract (fractious in the stalls) since.

20/1

1

(8)

17th Aug 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:42 Pontefract

Tropical Island

9st 7lb

J: Luke McAteer

T: Richard Fahey

Made the running and sprang 40-1 shock in Listed race at Galway (7f, soft) last month; won over 6f on good ground at Ripon in May; carries a 3lb penalty today and has to back up that latest form, but is not ruled out.

7/1

1st

5

(15)

31st Jul 2025

Yielding

0m 7f 0y

15:20 Galway

Tropical Island

9st 7lb

J: Luke McAteer

T: Richard Fahey

Belied her 150-1 odds with a fourth-place finish in a Listed race at Chelmsford (7f, AW); failed to build on that at Pontefract; appears short of the standard required to win a Listed race

10/1

4/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 3

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 4lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Plenty to like about his debut third of 12 at Nottingham (6f, good to soft) nine days ago; can improve for a stable with a healthy strike-rate with 2yos here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

7

(2)

13th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

15:52 Leicester

The Coffee Pod

9st 4lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: William Muir & Chris Grassick

Picked up for 4,000gns from the Hannon yard last autumn after breaking a blood-vessel for the second time in four runs; not much luck and maybe fresh is the time to catch him, going in a first-time hood, but the stiff 6f is a concern (most starts at 5f).

16/1

7

(1)

2nd Sep 2025

Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

14:58 Goodwood

The Coffee Pod

9st 2lb

J: Joe Leavy

T: Richard Hannon

Travelled well but found little for pressure here 11 days ago (5f, good); that was after three months off and he lurks on a dangerous mark; fine on soft.

12/1

1

(6)

22nd Aug 2025

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

19:18 Goodwood

The Coffee Pod

10st 0lb

J: Thomas Greatrex

T: Richard Hannon

Quirky customer who signalled a return to form when keeping-on third at Windsor (5f, good to firm) when last seen in May; on a dangerous mark.

9/2

Form: 20

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 4lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Promise when second on Hamilton debut (6f, good to soft) and perhaps found the run came too soon when well beaten in a Glorious Goodwood maiden 11 days later.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

(6)

27th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 68y

Class 5

17:05 Hamilton

Union Island

9st 4lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Charlie Johnston

Won two of his last five starts (with and without headgear), scrambling home at Leicester (1m, good to firm) 18 days ago; a 2lb rise not excessive and he has a good strike-rate for one of his rating; chance.

4/1

1st

3

(9)

9th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 53y

Class 6

20:25 Leicester

Union Island

9st 7lb

J: Jack Callan

T: Charlie Johnston

Back to winning ways at Lingfield (1m) in February but his more recent form is not so encouraging, tenth in 1m Doncaster handicap two weeks ago; needs to take a step forward.

25/1

OUR TIP

7/2

Form: 15

Last run: 70 days

W: 9st 8lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Made a winning start in four-runner Musselburgh novice (5f, good; 8-13) in May, surging clear to win by 9l; could manage only 3l fifth of six in Beverley conditions event (5f, good to firm) the following month but given time since and his yard's 2yos continue in excellent form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

18th

1

(12)

7th Oct 2023

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

14:05 Newmarket

Cuban Slide

9st 1lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: K R Burke

Wide-margin win at Musselburgh (5f, good) on debut but in a weak race and limitations have apparently been exposed since; seventh of 15 in one of these valuable 6f sale races on penultimate start, when trying cheekpieces, easily the best of last three runs; now tries a visor but has lots to find.

50/1

7th

6

(4)

14th Sep 2023

Good To Soft

0m 7f 6y

Class 3

17:20 Doncaster

Cuban Slide

8st 12lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

raced centre, prominent

10/1

7th

3

(8)

26th Aug 2023

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:20 Newmarket (July)

Cuban Slide

9st 3lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: K R Burke

Scored by wide margin at Musselburgh (5f, good) on debut, albeit in a weak race; limitations have been somewhat exposed in two runs since; first-time headgear needs to prompt better form.

25/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 9st 4lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
34,000gns half-brother to 5f AW winner Katelli (RPR 67); dam 5f/6f winner (including AW; 72); will need to be useful to win this on debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(12)

21st May 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

18:40 Kempton (AW)

Bills Baar

9st 9lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

0-7 in handicaps but went down by the narrowest margin at York last July; disappointing favourite in October and gelded ahead of this return to action; probably best watched from wide draw on AW debut (half-brother and dam did win on an artificial surface).

13/2

1

(12)

21st May 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

18:40 Kempton (AW)

Bills Baar

9st 9lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

0-7 in handicaps but went down by the narrowest margin at York last July; disappointing favourite in October and gelded ahead of this return to action; probably best watched from wide draw on AW debut (half-brother and dam did win on an artificial surface).

13/2

5th

4

(5)

2nd Oct 2024

Good To Soft

0m 7f 6y

Class 5

15:55 Catterick

Bills Baar

9st 13lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

Quite lightly raced this term and in good form, suffering a poor run when eighth in 1m Goodwood handicap in August; he ought to be in the shake-up.

5/1

Form: 621 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 8lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Has advanced his RPR with each start, shading a tight finish in 6f Newcastle novice (AW debut) 16 days ago; more will be needed if he's to follow up here, though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

(4)

28th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 25y

15:47 Fairyhouse

Im Spartacus

9st 11lb

J: Adam Caffrey

T: Adrian McGuinness

Six-time AW winner remains a maiden on turf (0-22); has placed over C&D (good) off 3lb higher and shaped better than the bare result at the Curragh latest so not dismissed from an each-way perspective.

14/1

14th

18

(17)

4th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

17:20 Curragh

Im Spartacus

8st 13lb

J: Adam Caffrey

T: Adrian McGuinness

Six-time winner over this trip on AW; still seeking turf breakthrough after 21 attempts; potentially well handicapped based on his victory at Dundalk in March, achieved at the main expense of today's rivals Reposado and Masked Angel; 11lb better off with Reposado.

8/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 9st 4lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
The first foal of a fairly useful 6f 2yo/1m winner (RPR 84); yard 2-38 with 2yos this year; best watched on debut unless the betting strongly hints otherwise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

2

(6)

28th Sep 2024

Standard

0m 7f 0y

Class 6

20:00 Chelmsford (AW)

Frankie Valliance

9st 6lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: David Loughnane

Below market expectations on his handicap debut (Polytrack) before again looking worth a try over this longer trip back on turf last time; lightly raced still and one to consider back from a short break.

7/1

4th

6

(3)

15th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

0m 6f 16y

Class 6

17:05 Chepstow

Frankie Valliance

9st 6lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: David Loughnane

raced in last

4/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.40
Straight Forecast £7.87
Trifecta £20.20

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Tropical Island

SPOTLIGHT:

Government Call

The Times:

The Coffee Pod

POSTDATA:

Union Island

The Guardian:

The Coffee Pod

Daily Mirror:

The Coffee Pod

Daily Mail:

Tropical Island

D Express:

Tropical Island

The Sun:

Tropical Island

Telegraph:

Government Call

The Star:

Government Call

Daily Record:

Government Call