Today / 16.10 Ripon

16.10

Good

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  • Prize money: £4710.6
  • 0m 5f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 9 runners
SKY
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Book Online At ripon-races.co.uk Handicap

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

Form: 791915 CD BF

Last run: 5 days

W: 10st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Acts on good to firm and soft; nine-time winner who scored by 4l at Catterick two weeks ago but was disappointing under a penalty there last Wednesday; up another 4lb, but he was as good as ever on his penultimate run and is a player if he can recapture that form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

(9)

26th Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

16:15 Catterick

Our Absent Friends

9st 0lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Tristan Davidson

Failed to beat a rival home at Thirsk (5f, good) but he's won over this C&D either side of that, including when coming 4l clear nine days ago; looks well treated under a 4lb penalty but this is a step up in class.

4/1

1st

3

(4)

17th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:15 Catterick

Our Absent Friends

9st 13lb

J: David Allan

T: Tristan Davidson

Wins his share and he got off the mark for the year over C&D last month; well held at Thirsk three days ago but in a Class 4; this should be more suitable.

6/1

Form: 312144 CD

Last run: 17 days

W: 10st 0lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
6yo who has won three times this season, including over C&D in June and at Hamilton last month; remains well handicapped on his old form but he didn't shine at Thirsk last time and it would be a worry if the forecast rain arrives (all turf wins have been on good/good to firm).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

(1)

14th Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

18:43 Thirsk

Rock Of England

9st 5lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Paul Midgley

Prominent racer and another of these having a good season; close up behind Accrual and Moulin Booj here last time and he's better off at the weights with both.

10/1

4th

6

(6)

1st Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

15:17 Thirsk

Rock Of England

9st 10lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Paul Midgley

Prominent racer; thriving this season, winning three of his last five starts with the latest a cosy success at Hamilton (5f, good to firm) two weeks ago; up 4lb but he needs serious consideration; stable also runs American Bay.

7/2

OUR TIP

Form: 421131 C

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Resurgent 8yo who has won four of his last seven starts, including at Windsor (5f, good to firm) two weeks ago; that was a last-gasp success but he beat a subsequent winner and this return to slower ground is no problem; big player again in his bid for a third course win.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(8)

17th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 21y

Class 5

17:20 Windsor

Thornaby Pearl

9st 12lb

J: Jake Dickson

T: Adrian Nicholls

Usually claimer ridden, to set the pace or race prominently; 8yo who has never raced here but he's been competitive in nearly every race this season, winning three, and went down by just a head and a neck at Newmarket on latest outing; drawn a bit wide but needs major respect.

5/1

3rd

4

(4)

8th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:50 Newmarket (July)

Thornaby Pearl

9st 5lb

J: Oliver Carmichael

T: Adrian Nicholls

Prominent racer who made it three wins in his last five starts when making all at Musselburgh (5f, good) last Friday; it's over three years since he defied a mark this high but he has to be respected in his current mood.

11/4

Form: 624362 CD

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 9lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Ten-time course winner who made a bold bid when runner-up in a 20-runner handicap here (6f, good) 16 days ago; up 3lb but he still looks on a workable mark and is respected back in trip; has won on good to firm and good to soft.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

20

(17)

15th Aug 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

14:55 Ripon

Marks Choice

8st 13lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Gemma Tutty

Ten-time course winner; he has done enough this year to think he could add to that tally but this may prove too competitive for the veteran.

20/1

6th

3

(1)

1st Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 2y

Class 5

18:00 Doncaster

Marks Choice

9st 10lb

J: Oliver Stammers

T: Gemma Tutty

Ripon specialist (ten wins at that track); run down only by Reigning Profit and Rock Of England when attempting to win the race named in his honour there (5f) 26 days ago; no issue with this return to 6f and has been placed here previously.

10/1

Form: 552822 CD

Last run: 5 days

W: 9st 6lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Eight-time winner who has finished runner-up in three of her last four starts, including at Catterick (5f) last week; should be in the mix again and she won't mind what the weather does.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

10

(1)

26th Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

16:15 Catterick

Canaria Queen

8st 11lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Tim Easterby

Eight-time winner; bounced back from a lesser effort when second over C&D nine days ago but she was 4l behind Our Absent Friends; this is tougher.

10/1

2nd

6

(2)

17th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:15 Catterick

Canaria Queen

9st 12lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Tim Easterby

She is enjoying a good campaign and today's return to Class 5 company is in her favour; she has run well over C&D in the past and a big run looks on the cards from a handy draw.

13/2

Form: 962346 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 5lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Started his campaign with two wins in April, but he's been up and down since and was beaten 9l behind Our Absent Friends at Catterick last time; needs to bounce back again after that and others are more solid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

(7)

17th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:15 Catterick

Betweenthesticks

9st 12lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

Started his campaign with two wins in April and there have been plenty of solid runs since; should remain competitive but minor money perhaps his best hope.

8/1

4th

1

(5)

5th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 3y

Class 5

16:15 Pontefract

Betweenthesticks

9st 12lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

Won this last year and kicked off this campaign with two wins in a row, the second of them over C&D; he's run well in defeat over C&D on his last two starts and there's every chance he'll again be bang there.

11/2

Form: 315066 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 5lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Front-running veteran who has won 11 times; his last success was off 4lb higher at Nottingham (5f, good) in April but he's been disappointing since and needs to get back on track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

(4)

7th Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

15:40 Thirsk

Glory Fighter

9st 4lb

J: David Nolan

T: Paul Midgley

Front-running veteran who has won 11 times including over C&D; got pestered for the lead at Catterick last time but he's been disappointing since his win at Nottingham (5f, good) in April and others are preferred.

8/1

6th

5

(1)

11th Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

19:52 Catterick

Glory Fighter

9st 5lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Paul Midgley

Two of 11 wins have been over C&D; latest success was at Nottingham (5f, good) in April but rather disappointing since; has a bit to prove.

9/1

Form: 165427 CD

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
C&D winner (good) in May, but she's not hit the same level since and was a long way below form at Redcar last time; now drops back in trip but she has something to prove and yard also runs Canaria Queen.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

(2)

22nd Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 217y

Class 5

19:30 Redcar

Marajito

9st 7lb

J: Oisin McSweeney

T: Tim Easterby

Resumed winning ways at Ripon (5f) in May and comes here on the back of a good second of five there (5f) 19 days ago; this course scorer needs considering.

13/2

2nd

3

(1)

3rd Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

15:24 Ripon

Marajito

9st 6lb

J: Oisin McSweeney

T: Tim Easterby

Won over C&D (good) in May and perhaps the return to Ripon will be a positive; however, she's been unplaced on her three starts since, most recently fourth to Zoustar Dreams at Nottingham, and she needs something extra.

6/1

Form: 496112 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 0lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 61

Form & Verdict
Turned things around with a win at Wolverhampton last month and she followed up in a Ffos Las handicap (5f, good); couldn't quite get the job done in her hat-trick bid at Lingfield (6f, AW), but that was another big run and she's only 1lb higher on this drop back in trip; shortlisted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(5)

18th Aug 2026

Standard

0m 6f 1y

Class 6

17:52 Lingfield (AW)

Happier

9st 9lb

J: Toby Moore

T: Martin Keighley

Returned to winning form in a 0-50 classified event at Wolverhampton (5f, Tapeta) last month and followed up in a 0-65 handicap at Ffos Las (5f, good) six days ago; has a 5lb penalty to carry, but still respected in her current mood and the return to this trip is no problem.

7/2

1st

7

(5)

12th Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

16:07 Ffos Las

Happier

9st 4lb

J: Jack Doughty

T: Martin Keighley

Came good for current stable at seventh attempt, with emphatic 5f AW win 12 days ago; will be fine back on turf and recent 5lb rise ought to be manageable; respected.

4/1

Betting Forcast

5/1 Our Absent Friends, 9/2 Rock Of England, 5/1 Thornaby Pearl, 9/2 Marks Choice, 11/2 Canaria Queen, 14/1 Betweenthesticks, 20/1 Glory Fighter, 10/1 Marajito, 11/2 Happier

Verdict

Our Absent Friends has a patchy profile but he hit a personal best at Catterick on his penultimate run and has claims if he can recapture that form. Ten-time course winner Mark’s Choice is respected after his close call in a big field here last time, while Happier and Canaria Queen are also firmly in the mix. However, the vote goes to the resurgent 8yo THORNABY PEARL, who has won four of his last seven starts and knuckled down really well to beat a subsequent winner at Windsor last time.[David Moon]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Thornaby Pearl

RP RATINGS:

Our Absent Friends

TOPSPEED:

Canaria Queen

Daily Mail:

Rock Of England

D Express:

Mark's Choice

The Star:

Happier

POSTDATA:

Canaria Queen

The Sun:

Rock Of England

Telegraph:

Thornaby Pearl

The Guardian:

Thornaby Pearl

The Times:

Our Absent Friends

Daily Mirror:

Our Absent Friends

Daily Record:

Mark's Choice