July 18 / 20.25 Pontefract

20.25

Good

Babs Woolford Memorial Handicap

  • Prize money: £4187.2
  • 1m 4f 5y
  • Class 5
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Babs Woolford Memorial Handicap

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

Form: 122106 C

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Made all for two of his three wins this year, including here (1m2f, good), and was prominent in the other; missed the break penultimate start and ran well from the rear when sixth of 17 at York (1m2f, good) three weeks ago; well backed that day and he stays this trip; big player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

(1)

2nd Sep 2026

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 6

13:45 Newcastle (AW)

Its A Love Thing

9st 9lb

J: Cian Horgan

T: Sam England

Three-time winner (including over C&D) last spring; failed to beat a rival on his last three outings and has lots to prove after a layoff.

8/1

8th

2

(8)

30th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 6

17:52 Southwell (AW)

Its A Love Thing

9st 7lb

J: Oisin McSweeney

T: Sam England

7-47 on AW but has struggled for form since finishing third at Newcastle (1m, Class 5; from 12lb higher) last November; failed to beat a rival in each of his last two starts (9.4f/1m4f) so it's difficult to have confidence.

25/1

Form: -20824

Last run: 31 days

W: 9st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Went close at Thirsk (1m4f, good to firm) on April's reappearance and also beaten less than 1l when second over C&D (good) in June; 7lb claimer up when below that last time but regular rider David Allan is now back on board; 0-3 in cheekpieces, though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

5

(8)

31st Aug 2026

Good

1m 2f 190y

Class 6

17:50 Ripon

Kitsune Power

10st 12lb

J: Miss Amy Collier

T: Tim Easterby

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.

10/1

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: 23/08-

Last run: 371 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
All five Flat starts on AW; won over hurdles for Gordon Elliott in Ireland last summer but lost his form subsequently and has largely struggled in that discipline since joining this yard too; appeared to be running better in a first-time hood until blundering his jockey away three out last time, albeit that was too far out to draw definitive conclusions; no hood for this first Flat start in a year.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

18th Oct 2025

Good

2m 6f 7y

Class 5

17:05 Stratford

Leading Lion

10st 13lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Max Comley

Won over hurdles for Gordon Elliott; lost his way for his next yard and struggles continued on debut for this one.

50/1

7

27th Sep 2025

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 5

18:15 Market Rasen

Leading Lion

11st 4lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Max Comley

Won over hurdles for Gordon Elliott in Ireland last summer but in poor form over hurdles and on the Flat for Tracy Leeson this year; makes debut for latest new stable with huge amount to prove; blinkers removed.

33/1

8

(10)

25th Aug 2025

Good

1m 2f 190y

Class 6

17:33 Ripon

Leading Lion

10st 8lb

J: Mr Joseph Stevenson

T: Tracey Leeson

Has been poor under both codes since his sole success over hurdles in Ireland a year ago; blinkers will need to have a dramatic effect.

66/1

Form: 23/999

Last run: 48 days

W: 9st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 65

Form & Verdict
Out of form over hurdles last year and this, while it has been a similar story back on the Flat at a variety of trips on his last three starts; impossible to recommend at present.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(9)

2nd Sep 2026

Soft

1m 5f 16y

Class 5

17:50 Hamilton

Perseus Way

10st 2lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Tristan Davidson

Got up in the last stride to win the corresponding race 12 months ago off a 7lb lower mark (trained by Stuart Coltherd); in fine form for new stable in 2026 with his win in a C&D handicap in June sandwiched by a pair of hurdle wins at Hexham; another solid hurdle run 73 days ago; needs serious consideration.

9/4

2nd

1

21st Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 3

15:43 Hexham

Perseus Way

12st 0lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Tristan Davidson

Bidding for a hat-trick of hurdle wins having won his last two races over 2m4f here, last time beating Well Educated by 9l; won over 1m5f on the Flat at Hamilton in between (good); 9lb higher than last win, but a chance despite dropping back in trip.

Evs

1st

6

13th Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 3

15:40 Hexham

Perseus Way

11st 2lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Tristan Davidson

5lb higher mark than for last month's soft-ground C&D victory over Sunset Hill and Johnson's Blue still reads favourably next to his 2022-23 peak RPRs; Flat scorer at Hamilton since (1m5f, good), and plainly on fine terms with himself again; player.

9/4

Form: 2-3362

Last run: 11 days

W: 8st 13lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish mare; still a maiden after ten starts but she's been running well for this yard and didn't get any luck when a close sixth at Newcastle (12.4f, AW) last month; backed that up when second (Ayr, 1m5f, good to soft) behind a Prescott improver last time; solid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

(6)

13th Sep 2025

Good

2m 2f 28y

Class 4

18:22 Musselburgh

Paper Doll

9st 8lb

J: David Nolan

T: Tristan Davidson

Steadily progressive for current yard and successful in last three turf attempts (1m4f-2m2f, good), beating Simple Star over C&D latest; may not have reached her ceiling yet; major player.

7/2

1st

3

(6)

27th Aug 2025

Good

2m 2f 28y

Class 4

16:00 Musselburgh

Paper Doll

9st 6lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Tristan Davidson

Ex-Irish mare who's barely put a foot wrong this year for current yard; that includes wins at Pontefract (1m4f) and Carlisle (1m6f) on two of her last three outings, both on good (unraced on firmer); shaped as if she got 2m on Newcastle AW in between (6l third to Stand Strong) but the 1m6f win was clearly her best effort.

9/2

1st

6

(7)

12th Aug 2025

Good

1m 6f 32y

Class 4

15:15 Carlisle

Paper Doll

9st 6lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Tristan Davidson

Ex-Irish mare who's barely put a foot wrong for her current yard; bumped into one at Ayr before a Pontefract win off 6lb lower and is shortlisted back on to turf, having found trouble on Tapeta latest.

7/2

Form: 724201 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 8st 13lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
Multiple winner who landed an eleventh success when scoring at Beverley (1m2f, good to firm; her sixth course win) a fortnight ago; 2lb nudge demands more and she's 0-6 here, including when last behind It's A Love Thing on her latest visit in April.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

(8)

2nd Sep 2026

Soft

1m 3f 15y

Class 6

19:50 Hamilton

Dandys Angel

8st 12lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: John Wainwright

Trip, track and ground are all fine; no threat at Thirsk last week but that was 1m and this trip is more suitable; each-way shout.

16/1

6th

10

(7)

28th Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 218y

Class 6

14:13 Thirsk

Dandys Angel

10st 4lb

J: Mr Freddie Robson

T: John Wainwright

Has done most of her racing and winning over 1m2f; back in better form the last twice but isn't crying out for this drop back in trip, especially on a sharp track.

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £6.60
Straight Forecast £6.18
Trifecta £12.20

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Paper Doll

POSTDATA:

Dandy's Angel

SPOTLIGHT:

It's A Love Thing

RP RATINGS:

Kitsune Power

The Times:

Paper Doll

Telegraph:

Paper Doll

The Guardian:

Paper Doll

Daily Mail:

Paper Doll

Daily Mirror:

Paper Doll

Daily Record:

Paper Doll

D Express:

It's A Love Thing

The Sun:

Dandy's Angel

The Star:

Dandy's Angel