September 28 / 17.50 Ripon

17.50

Heavy

David Dalton 50-Years Service Happy Retirement Handicap

  • Prize money: £7731
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
David Dalton 50-Years Service Happy Retirement Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

11/2 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £2.40

Form: 573451

Last run: 54 days

W: 9st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Won final start last term and also on his first and latest races this season; latest was over 2m1f at Carlisle (good), so there's no doubting his stamina, but his three runs on either good to soft or soft have left a bit more to be desired.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(4)

21st Jun 2025

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:25 Newmarket (July)

Merrijig

9st 1lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: John Berry

Three wins in a productive 2024 but well held on 1m6f Chelmsford reappearance three weeks ago and a career best will be needed to defy this mark.

14/1

11th

9

(9)

1st Jun 2025

Standard

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:45 Chelmsford (AW)

Merrijig

9st 0lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: John Berry

Won quite valuable C&D contest when fresh in March last year and subsequently added two turf wins (2m1f/2m) to his tally but returns from his latest layoff on a tough mark.

16/1

11th

9

(9)

1st Jun 2025

Standard

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:45 Chelmsford (AW)

Merrijig

9st 0lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: John Berry

Won quite valuable C&D contest when fresh in March last year and subsequently added two turf wins (2m1f/2m) to his tally but returns from his latest layoff on a tough mark.

16/1

3/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 7-236P

Last run: 98 days

W: 10st 2lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Won a three-runner novice (1m4f, heavy) on debut; no joy since and pulled up on good to firm when out of his depth at Royal Ascot last time on final start for Dominic Ffrench Davis; however, two placed efforts (2m2f/2m) when front-running in the mud this spring give encouragement; 7lb claimer enlisted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

(2)

29th Jun 2025

Soft

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:00 Ffos Las

Maxident

10st 1lb

J: David Egan

T: Raphael E Freire

0-11 since his winning debut, but close fourth of five at Chelmsford (1m5f, AW; Kingdom Of Stars second) last time was after eight months off and it wasn't far off his peak form (2m, soft) shown last May; case can be made.

8/1

4th

3

(5)

5th Jun 2025

Standard

1m 5f 66y

Class 4

19:42 Chelmsford (AW)

Maxident

9st 8lb

J: David Egan

T: Raphael E Freire

0-10 since his successful racecourse debut and something to prove on AW debut after eight months off, albeit he has run well fresh in the past; market informative.

6/1

4th

3

(5)

5th Jun 2025

Standard

1m 5f 66y

Class 4

19:42 Chelmsford (AW)

Maxident

9st 8lb

J: David Egan

T: Raphael E Freire

0-10 since his successful racecourse debut and something to prove on AW debut after eight months off, albeit he has run well fresh in the past; market informative.

6/1

Form: 8-1565

Last run: 31 days

W: 9st 9lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Won over hurdles (heavy) in March and on the Flat at Hamilton (1m5f, soft) in May; out of form on his last three outings, wearing cheekpieces on last two occasions and now he tries blinkers; that's on the discouraging side but the return to soft or heavy ground looks a big plus.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

(4)

12th Jul 2025

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 4

19:30 Hamilton

Two Auld Pals

9st 8lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Lucinda Russell

Four of his six wins have been over C&D and latest was on good ground last month; that was a narrow success in a bunched finish but he battled well to come out on top and is only 2lb higher here; respected.

2/1

1st

7

(1)

5th Jun 2025

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 4

15:12 Hamilton

Two Auld Pals

8st 13lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Lucinda Russell

Won this under Oisin Orr from 4lb higher mark last year (third course win) and shaped as though coming to hand here last week; handles most ground and he's an interesting runner.

5/1

7

(1)

5th Jun 2025

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 4

15:12 Hamilton

Two Auld Pals

8st 13lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Lucinda Russell

Won this under Oisin Orr from 4lb higher mark last year (third course win) and shaped as though coming to hand here last week; handles most ground and he's an interesting runner.

5/1

Form: 485918 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Last year's sole win was over 2m on heavy and he was back near that level when winning at York (2m, good to soft) this July; needs to bounce back from a big defeat four weeks ago and 7lb claimer is enlisted, but seriously considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

(8)

28th Jun 2025

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

14:40 Newcastle (AW)

Zimmerman

9st 1lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Won off this mark at York (2m) last July and didn't run badly on reappearance at Ripon in April; however, good performances were scarce last season and he was tailed off at Chester last month; something to prove; the tongue-tie and blinkers are both new and replace cheekpieces.

40/1

9th

4

(1)

9th May 2025

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 2

16:45 Chester

Zimmerman

9st 10lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Tim Easterby

Won at York (2m, good to soft) last July and just 2lb higher today; could improve for recent return at Ripon but good performances were scarce last season and slow ground, which seems preferable, is unlikely to prevail.

10/1

9th

4

(1)

9th May 2025

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 2

16:45 Chester

Zimmerman

9st 10lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Tim Easterby

Won at York (2m, good to soft) last July and just 2lb higher today; could improve for recent return at Ripon but good performances were scarce last season and slow ground, which seems preferable, is unlikely to prevail.

10/1

Form: 153-82 CD

Last run: 32 days

W: 8st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 60

Form & Verdict
Sole win last year was over C&D in August and he has the same mark today; missed most of this season and he was second over C&D last time but his record on soft or heavy ground is a big worry.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

3

28th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 124y

Class 4

14:10 Musselburgh

Spantik

11st 9lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Roger Fell

Inconsistent on the Flat in recent months but has run a couple of good races and he's on a competitive mark judged on his hurdle form in autumn 2022; not ruled out on first jumps outing since that December.

16/1

OUR TIP

4/1

Form: 211236 C

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Recorded form figures of 21123 over 1m4f-2m in a very productive March/April, mostly in the mud and two of those runs were at this track; 140 days off before a respectable show two weeks ago and he'll be a serious player if that's brought him back to his best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

(4)

15th Jun 2025

Good

1m 3f 15y

Class 4

18:45 Hamilton

Clansman

9st 3lb

J: Cian Horgan

T: Liam Bailey

Continues to edge down the weights and is 4lb below last winning mark; interesting if back on ideal ground, all wins having been on soft or heavy.

14/1

7th
6 (7)
Tokyo Bay

7/2

Form: 24-146 C

Last run: 119 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Made all in clearcut fashion in 12-runner maiden at Ripon (1m4f, heavy) in April; seemed to find 1m4f on good ground too sharp at York (handicap debut) next time but didn't fire when upped to 14.5f at Doncaster (again on good) latest; gelded soon afterwards and absent four months; interesting prospect for staying trips in the mud.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

(2)

5th Jun 2025

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 4

15:12 Hamilton

Tokyo Bay

9st 0lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: K R Burke

1m4f heavy ground maiden winner last spring; hasn't progressed in handicaps and, although cheekpieces are added, he'll have to raise his game if he's to bag a first handicap.

10/1

4

(2)

5th Jun 2025

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 4

15:12 Hamilton

Tokyo Bay

9st 0lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: K R Burke

1m4f heavy ground maiden winner last spring; hasn't progressed in handicaps and, although cheekpieces are added, he'll have to raise his game if he's to bag a first handicap.

10/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £14.80
Straight Forecast £13.93
Trifecta £105.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Tokyo Bay

TOPSPEED:

Maxident

The Guardian:

Merrijig

POSTDATA:

Spantik

The Sun:

Clansman

RP RATINGS:

Tokyo Bay

The Times:

Tokyo Bay

Daily Mail:

Tokyo Bay

The Star:

Tokyo Bay

Daily Mirror:

Merrijig

Telegraph:

Maxident

D Express:

Maxident

Daily Record:

Spantik