15:42 Ripon

Thursday 17 April 2025

All14:0014:3515:1015:4216:1516:5017:25

Armstrong Memorial Handicap

Off time: 15:42 | Winning time: 1m 11.02s

(9)

Dakota Gold¹⁸⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 9-9| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR: 85| CD

14/1

C&D winner. 12/1, creditable second of 10 in handicap at Catterick (5f, heavy), nearest finish. Off 180 days but this most likeable veteran can make his presence felt.

Form: 279502-

(1)

Cairn Gorm⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: L Morris| T: M Appleby| OR: 84| D

9/1

In good form until a below-par fifth of 9 in handicap (7/1) at Southwell (6.1f) 55 days ago. Sort to bounce back.

Form: 150/1-25

(6)

Aberama Gold^v¹²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: Mark Winn| T: D O'Meara| OR: 83| BF| D

13/2

Respectable second of 7 in handicap (9/4) at Chelmsford City (6f). Off 126 days. Visor back on. Can give a good account.

Form: 374022-

(11)

Valentine Catcher²³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 82| D

10/3

Lightly-raced winner. Only fifth of 8 in handicap at Carlisle (5.8f, soft, 4/1) 7 months ago. Needs to hit the ground running on his return.

Form: 142/15-

(7)

La Rochette¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: William Pyle⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Tracy Waggott| OR: 82| D

100/1

Fairly useful ex-French 6f winner but he came in last of 19 in handicap at Doncaster (6f, good) on yard debut 18 days ago. Much more is required.

Form: 10095-0

(8)

Fortamour¹⁸⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 9-5| J: P Mulrennan| T: B Haslam| OR: 81| CD

11/1

A 6-time C&D winner, including in this event in 2022 and also 12 months ago. A likely player once more on his seasonal return.

Form: 331039-

(2)

Beyond Borders²⁶⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: J Mitchell| T: K Frost| OR: 81| D

16/1

33/1, good fifth of 9 in handicap at Chester (6.1f, good) 8 months ago on his final run for Karl Burke. Possibilities if fully tuned up on his comeback run.

Form: 246395-

(5)

Rock Opera¹⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Billy Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 79| D

7/1

12/1, tenth of 11 in handicap at Wolverhampton (6.1f). Off 150 days with more needed.

Form: 400320-

(4)

Tiriac²⁰⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Cam Hardie| T: P T Midgley| OR: 79| BF| D

40/1

Below form fifth of 9 in handicap at Goodwood (6f, heavy, 9/4), slowly away. Off 6 months. First run for yard after leaving Jack Channon. Betting can guide.

Form: 345655-

(10)

Mr Wagyu^v¹⁸⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 9-3| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 79| CD

7/1

C&D winner. 8/1, tenth of 11 in handicap at Catterick (6f, heavy) 180 days ago. Has slipped to a good mark but it's now 30 runs since his last win in 2022.

Form: 800900-

(14)

The Good Biscuit¹⁷⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Joanna Mason| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 79| D

7/1

7/1, seventh of 8 in handicap at Doncaster (6f, soft). Off 174 days. First run for yard after leaving Jack Channon. Others more persuasive.

Form: 5/24297-

(12)

American Bay²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: D Nolan| T: P T Midgley| OR: 78| D

13/2

28/1, first run since leaving Harry Charlton when sixth of 9 in handicap at Wolverhampton (6.1f) 24 days ago. Needs considering with that run under his belt.

Form: 45415-6

(13)

Danzan^p¹⁷⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 8-10| J: Amie Waugh⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 72| D

16/1

Twenty one runs since last win in 2023. Respectable fifth of 9 in handicap (11/1) at Doncaster (6f, soft). Off 174 days.

Form: 003325-

Non-Runners

(3)

Wobwobwob¹⁷³

Weight: 9-8| Age: 7

T: A Keatley J: O McSweeney

Forecasts

Valentine Catcher (10/3), Aberama Gold (13/2), American Bay (13/2), The Good Biscuit (7/1), Rock Opera (7/1), Mr Wagyu (7/1), Cairn Gorm (9/1), Fortamour (11/1), Wobwobwob (12/1), Dakota Gold (14/1), Danzan (16/1), Beyond Borders (16/1), Tiriac (40/1), La Rochette (100/1)

This is wide open so it could pay to side with course specialist FORTAMOUR who has bagged this prize twice already and is taken to complete the hat-trick here. Wobwobwob resumes on a handy-looking mark and has gone well fresh in the past so must enter calculations along with Dakota Gold, Aberama Gold and American Bay. Cairn Gorm completes the shortlist.