April 27 / 18.50 Ripon

18.50

Soft

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  • Prize money: £7731
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
SKY
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Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.20
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 8975-1 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Thorough stayer; won over hurdles at Catterick in January (1m7f, heavy) and returned to form when scoring over 2m2f off a 2lb lower mark at Pontefract (heavy) on return to the Flat last time; a possible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

4th Jun 2026

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

17:03 Uttoxeter

Justus

11st 2lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

Out of form last season but seemed to have turned a corner when second off much-reduced mark at Hexham (2m, good) 16 days ago; player if in similar mood again here.

9/2

2nd

3

19th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

20:50 Hexham

Justus

11st 12lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

Took big step back in right direction and arguably ran better than bare form suggests when fifth at Wetherby (2m, good to soft) in March, but was generally very disappointing last season; others have more appealing profiles.

16/1

20/1

  • Place: £7.60

Form: 41/8-3

Last run: 9 days

W: 8st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Fit from hurdling when beaten over 12l by Clansman on his return to the Flat over 1m6f here nine days ago; meets the winner on 11lb better terms so not out of it.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

(6)

22nd May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 27y

Class 4

19:52 Pontefract

Diamand De Vindecy

8st 7lb

J: Ethan Tindall

T: Robert Bevis

Ran away with a 2m2f handicap here last April; not quite so good since, including when well held back on the Flat at Ripon last month.

14/1

5th

3

(1)

25th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:00 Ripon

Diamand De Vindecy

9st 11lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Robert Bevis

Arrives fit from hurdling and some of his best Flat form last year came in April, winning at Pontefract before second over C&D (both good).

7/1

5th

4

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 32y

Class 5

14:45 Bangor-on-Dee

Diamand De Vindecy

11st 5lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Robert Bevis

Nine-race maiden over hurdles but has placed form and he won six on the Flat; made a bright start over fences in January but didn't fancy it at Huntingdon and refused early; the cheekpieces are off but wouldn't be a surprise to see him run well.

8/1

3/1

Form: 9-2112 C BF

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Confirmed mudlark; has scored wide-margin wins in heavy-ground handicaps at Thirsk (1m4f) and over 1m6f here already this month; went up 11lb for those runs, but sound effort off new mark in his second race in three days when runner-up off 1lb lower at Nottingham (2m, heavy) last Saturday; has had a busy spell but could go well again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

17th

19

(14)

27th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

14:40 Newcastle (AW)

Clansman

8st 9lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Liam Bailey

Switched to front-running this year, including with Tapeta wins over 1m4f here in March and 2m at Southwell in April when last seen; that's career-best AW form but this race is a much higher grade and should be much harder to boss.

33/1

OUR TIP

4/1

Form: 34133- D

Last run: 217 days

W: 9st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Consistent sort whose only win last season was over 2m on heavy ground at Haydock in August; runner-up on reappearance last two seasons; should go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

(4)

8th Jun 2026

Good

2m 1f 27y

Class 6

20:00 Pontefract

Zimmerman

9st 7lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Should be well handicapped and has run well in defeat with cheekpieces added (joining regular tongue-tie) in last two races, behind Laravie in the penultimate one; surprising to see the blinkers back on.

11/2

3rd

2

(4)

21st May 2026

Good

1m 7f 217y

Class 6

14:20 Musselburgh

Zimmerman

11st 1lb

J: Mr Thomas Easterby

T: Tim Easterby

Solid effort when second of eight at Catterick ten days ago (2m, good; first run in this combination of accessories); should remain competitive.

11/2

2nd

2

(4)

11th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 189y

Class 6

15:30 Catterick

Zimmerman

9st 11lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

The odd sign of spark last season and he may have needed his recent comeback run; down to a dangerous mark but this 7yo has been regressive and is winless since July 2024; cheekpieces return for first time since last May.

6/1

5/2

Form: 6521-1

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Has won his last two races, at Redcar in September (1m6f, good) and at Chelmsford on reappearance last month (1m6f) when beating Clansman (10lb worse off) by 0.5l; has his first run on the Flat at 2m (was placed in three bumpers over 2m); could go well if handling the softer ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

(4)

17th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 1f 208y

Class 5

15:27 Nottingham

Merrijig

9st 7lb

J: Jason Watson

T: John Berry

Adaptable regarding ground and tactics; this looks less competitive than the Ffos Las 0-65 in which he finished second last time (hampered; two of these behind) and his claims are obvious.

7/4

2nd

2

(2)

30th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 0y

Class 6

20:39 Ffos Las

Merrijig

9st 8lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: John Berry

Done a lot of his winning later in the year but offered more in the returning blinkers last time, back from a couple of months off; boasts a decent record when dipping below 0-70 company and won't mind any rain.

5/1

3rd

1

(1)

8th Jun 2026

Good

2m 1f 27y

Class 6

20:00 Pontefract

Merrijig

9st 9lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: John Berry

Was 2-3 on the AW until disappointing at Kempton two months ago but he had been running well in the blinkers (reapplied) and he's a three-time turf winner on a competitive mark.

8/1

Form: 0321-2

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Well suited by give in the ground (last win was over 1m6f on soft at Haydock in September); stays 2m; fair reappearance run (second of three but odds-on favourite ran badly); a possible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

(1)

19th Jun 2026

Good

1m 7f 0y

Class 6

20:25 Ayr

Billy No Mates

9st 9lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Michael Dods

Began this season with two perfectly respectable 1m6f runs last month (good/soft) and continues to edge down the weights but his last win was in 2023 and he's not the percentage call in this field.

20/1

4th

8

(8)

18th May 2026

Good

1m 6f 32y

Class 5

15:30 Carlisle

Billy No Mates

8st 7lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Michael Dods

Rallied for third of six at Redcar (1m6f, good) on seasonal debut and remains well handicapped on historical data; just no certainty to step forward, being a veteran who hasn't won since 2023.

14/1

3rd

3

(6)

7th May 2026

Good

1m 5f 218y

Class 5

18:20 Redcar

Billy No Mates

9st 3lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Michael Dods

A veteran who is without a win since September 2023; good weights chance on last season's best but he ended the year with a modest effort; handles good ground but rarely seen on a faster surface.

7/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £59.50
Straight Forecast £52.53
Trifecta £167.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Zimmerman

Telegraph:

Clansman

NEWMARKET:

Merrijig

TOPSPEED:

Justus

D Express:

Billy No Mates

The Guardian:

Merrijig

RP RATINGS:

Zimmerman

The Times:

Zimmerman

Daily Mirror:

Zimmerman

The Sun:

Zimmerman

Daily Mail:

Clansman

The Star:

Clansman

Daily Record:

Clansman

POSTDATA:

Justus