16:17 Ripon

Thursday 18 April 2024

All13:5714:3215:0715:4216:1716:5217:25

Armstrong Memorial Handicap

Off time: 16:21 | Winning time: 1m 18.33s

(1)

Bay Breeze¹⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 81| CD

10/1

4-time C&D winner, including in this 12 months ago. Back to a potentially lenient mark for his return so highly respected.

Form: 010000-

(12)

May Blossom²⁰¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Tom Kiely-Marshall⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 81

80/1

Dual 5f winner in 2023 but even more slowly away than usual when eighth of 9 in handicap here (5f, good) in September on final run for David O'Meara. Can't be discounted starting out for her new stable.

Form: 110738-

(13)

Remarkable Force⁵⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 80

8/1

Looked a tricky ride when a below-par fifth of 8 in handicap at Chelmsford City (7f) 54 days ago on his final start for Brian Toomey. Needs to hit the ground running for his new handler.

Form: 392-745

(10)

Grant Wood³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: D Nolan| T: P T Midgley| OR: 80| BF| D

12/1

Started 2024 with 7f wins at Southwell and Newcastle in February but he came in only tenth of 12 in handicap back at Southwell (7.1f) 39 days ago. Sort to bounce back.

Form: 783-110

(6)

Fools Rush In¹⁷⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 79| DWS

8/1

On a long losing run but he posted a respectable fifth of 11 in handicap at Wolverhampton (8.6f) 178 days ago on his final run for Jim Goldie. Starts out for his new yard on the back of a wind op and not without interest.

Form: 704445-

(4)

Rock Opera¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: O J Orr| T: R A Fahey| OR: 78| D

10/1

Got off the mark for 2024 at Southwell in January and has continued in decent nick, fifth of 8 at Wolverhampton (7.2f) 14 days ago. Possibilities.

Form: 1-71355

(9)

Danzan^p¹⁷³

Age: 9| Weight: 9-6| J: Phil Dennis| T: T D Easterby| OR: 77| D

16/1

Largely reliable last term when a 7f winner (on soft) at Thirsk. No forlorn hope on his seasonal return from a falling mark.

Form: 230664-

(11)

American Star^b²⁰¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Brandon Wilkie⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 76| D

40/1

Ended 2023 with poor efforts at Southwell and here for new yard. Lots more is required on his reappearance.

Form: 554809-

(5)

Fortamour⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: Joanna Mason| T: B Haslam| OR: 75| CD

7/1

4-time C&D winner who resumed with a respectable fifth of 11 in handicap at Newcastle (6f) 46 days ago. Took this in 2022 and must enter calculations.

Form: 1049-65

(2)

Ey Up It's Maggie⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Tommie Jakes⁽⁵⁾| T: T Coyle & K Wood| OR: 75| C

16/1

Course winner who didn't enjoy the rub of the green when seventh of 13 in handicap at Thirsk (5f, heavy) 9 days ago, caught on the outer wing. Not dismissed.

Form: 4554-47

(3)

Thornaby Pearl¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Mia Nicholls⁽⁵⁾| T: Adrian Nicholls| OR: 73| BF| CD

9/2

Kickstarted 2024 with 5f win at Doncaster in March and not disgraced given he raced freely when fourth of 9 in handicap (6/4) at Bath (5f, heavy) 11 days ago. This C&D winner is in the mix once more.

Form: 4459-14

(7)

Illusionist⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Harrison Shaw| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 73| BF| D

3/1

It's now 17 runs since his last win but he posted a very good second of 13 in handicap at Thirsk (5f, heavy) 9 days ago, clear of rest. Big shout off an unchanged mark.

Form: 38-3652

(8)

Braveheart Boy²⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 72| D

33/1

Winless since 2022 and he ended last term well below par. Off 8 months with work to do.

Form: 400356-

Forecasts

Illusionist (3/1), Thornaby Pearl (9/2), Fortamour (7/1), Remarkable Force (8/1), Fools Rush In (8/1), Bay Breeze (10/1), Rock Opera (10/1), Grant Wood (12/1), Danzan (16/1), Ey Up It's Maggie (16/1), Braveheart Boy (33/1), American Star (40/1), May Blossom (80/1)

A case can be made for a few of these but Grant Tuer's ILLUSIONIST rates the pick at the weights able to race off the same mark as when an excellent recent Thirsk second so gets the vote. Last year's victor Bay Breeze is greatly feared though off an easing mark, while the likes of Fools Rush In, Fortamour and Thornaby Pearl can all have a say too.