August 05 / 16.00 Ripon

16.00

Good

Wilmot-Smith Memorial Handicap

  • Prize money: £9277.2
  • 0m 6f 0y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
SKY
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Wilmot-Smith Memorial Handicap

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £6.50
  • Place: £2.20

Form: 651433 CD

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Won this in 2021, one of five C&D victories, and was beaten a nose in it last season by Bay Breeze; handles these conditions but slower ground would have been optimal and there's little wiggle room off his current mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

(10)

3rd Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

19:42 Ripon

Fortamour

9st 9lb

J: Barry McHugh

T: Ben Haslam

Six-time C&D winner; easing mark and back to form, just held by U Sure Do over C&D (good; 25-1) under four weeks ago; is capable of handling easier ground, and well drawn close to the stands' rail in stall 10; stablemate of William Dewhirst.

4/1

2nd

9

(2)

8th May 2026

Good To Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

19:15 Ripon

Fortamour

8st 13lb

J: Barry McHugh

T: Ben Haslam

Six-time course winner but well held in his three runs this year and latest was over C&D (good to soft) last month; has form figures of 1242 in this race in the last four years but he needs to turn things around off a sliding mark.

12/1

2/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 215131 D

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Progressive sprinter who made it 2-2 in 6f handicaps when showing the right attitude, despite again edging left, off 3lb lower last time; having a rail on his near-side from the top stall won't hurt and he holds leading claims for a yard in fine form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

(7)

10th Jul 2026

Good

0m 7f 1y

Class 5

20:50 Chester

Kings Merchant

9st 9lb

J: Dale Swift

T: Philip Kirby

Gained all four wins over sprint trips, the latest in September 2024; ran quite well over 7f at Catterick (good) in May, though, and nearly exploited this career-low mark at Doncaster (6f, good to firm; second run in cheekpieces) a week ago; due to go back up 3lb; must be considered.

11/4

2nd

3

(1)

3rd Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 2y

Class 6

16:20 Doncaster

Kings Merchant

9st 12lb

J: Dale Swift

T: Philip Kirby

Progressive as a 3yo (C&D winner) but regressed last year and has continued to slide this season; hit a bit of traffic when not beaten far in first-time cheekpieces (retained) latest but others look to have stronger claims.

7/1

Form: -85568 CD

Last run: 33 days

W: 9st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Close third of four behind Bay Breeze in this last year and confirmed his liking for the track when winning over C&D a few weeks later; has rather struggled this season and, while the handicapper's been quick to ease off, drying ground will suit others better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

7

(5)

23rd Apr 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 212y

Class 5

17:10 Catterick

Twelfth Knight

9st 0lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Paul Midgley

Tumbled down the weights last year before undergoing wind surgery; was inclined to pull hard and didn't see it out on his Tapeta comeback, and the suspicion is he'll be back at some point.

12/1

9th

7

(5)

23rd Apr 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 212y

Class 5

17:10 Catterick

Twelfth Knight

9st 0lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Paul Midgley

in rear throughout

12/1

5th

1

(10)

29th Mar 2025

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

20:00 Newcastle (AW)

Twelfth Knight

9st 9lb

J: David Nolan

T: Paul Midgley

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, weakened inside final furlong

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 2-4107 CD

Last run: 9 days

W: 10st 0lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
This is her time of year and she's well suited by an easy 6f, as shown again when going in over C&D off 3lb lower two months ago; has been below that level the past twice, though, and has never won off a mark this high.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

(10)

19th Oct 2024

Soft

0m 5f 212y

Class 4

17:15 Catterick

International Girl

9st 11lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard Fahey

Stayed on to take third in a ten-runner fillies' handicap at Southwell (AW) 11 days ago; nudged up 1lb for that and her record on slower than good ground leaves something to be desired.

9/1

3rd

2

(5)

8th Oct 2024

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 4

19:30 Southwell (AW)

International Girl

9st 9lb

J: Ryan Sexton

T: Richard Fahey

Won a 6f handicap at Ripon in June off this mark; in and out since but this is less demanding than some of her recent assignments and she's run well on both AW starts; one to consider.

10/1

27

20th Sep 2024

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

16:15 Ayr

International Girl

9st 8lb

T: Richard Fahey

6/1

Form: 140407 C

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
5f win here in the spring came off a 1lb higher mark but he needs to bounce back from a couple of below-par efforts; Bay Breeze is perhaps his trainer's best shout.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(8)

27th Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

18:45 Newcastle (AW)

Mattice

9st 6lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Ian McInnes

Has been in grand form since winning at Carlisle (6f, good to soft) in July and landed his third win of the year (and first on AW) over C&D last time; up 6lb but must come into the equation on this hat-trick bid.

100/30

4

(8)

27th Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

18:45 Newcastle (AW)

Mattice

9st 6lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Ian McInnes

Has been in grand form since winning at Carlisle (6f, good to soft) in July and landed his third win of the year (and first on AW) over C&D last time; up 6lb but must come into the equation on this hat-trick bid.

100/30

1

(13)

2nd Oct 2025

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

19:30 Newcastle (AW)

Mattice

9st 13lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Ian McInnes

Went very close on stable debut over C&D last November; made all at Carlisle (good to soft) in July and kept on well to win at Ripon (also 6f, good) on Saturday; 5lb penalty but this drop back to 5f is likely no bother; should give it a good go.

9/2

7/2

Form: 446584 CD

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Four-time C&D winner (three of them on soft ground), including this race last year off a mark fully 11lb higher; is dangerously handicapped and offered more in first-time headgear latest, so needs considering.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

(2)

9th Jul 2026

Good

0m 5f 182y

Class 6

15:45 Carlisle

Bay Breeze

9st 13lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Tim Easterby

Eight-time winner, the latest over C&D (good to soft) 14 months ago off a 5lb higher mark; capable at this level but slower ground would have been preferable.

10/1

4th

1

(4)

9th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 182y

Class 6

18:12 Carlisle

Bay Breeze

11st 2lb

J: Mr Thomas Easterby

T: Tim Easterby

Won over C&D in May last year (good to soft); beaten 7l when third at Ripon last week (6f, good); these are his ideal conditions and should go well.

7/2

3rd

12

(11)

3rd Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

19:42 Ripon

Bay Breeze

8st 13lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Half of his wins have come over C&D and he finished sixth (Fortamour third) in this race in 2024; runner-up in added blinkers at Hamilton (6f, soft; 11-2) last September, but has failed to sparkle since (0-3); easing mark and a return to Ripon are the positives.

20/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £16.20
Straight Forecast £19.79
Trifecta £113.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Kings Merchant

TOPSPEED:

Mattice

The Guardian:

Bay Breeze

The Times:

Fortamour

RP RATINGS:

Kings Merchant

Telegraph:

Kings Merchant

D Express:

Kings Merchant

Daily Mirror:

Kings Merchant

The Sun:

Kings Merchant

Daily Record:

Kings Merchant

Daily Mail:

Bay Breeze

POSTDATA:

Mattice

The Star:

Mattice