19:15 Ripon

Friday 8 May 2026

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:15

Sam Alexander Memorial Handicap

Off time: 19:30 | Winning time: 1m 10.20s

(1)

Musical Touch³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Ethan Tindall⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 84| D

9/2

Enhanced his good record fresh when justifying support to take a 10-runner handicap at Southwell (6f, 5/2) 36 days ago. No reason why this consistent sort shouldn't go well again from 4 lb higher mark.

Form: 34600-1

(5)

U Sure Do^t1²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Cam Hardie| T: T D Easterby| OR: 83| D

11/2

Scored at Catterick in October on his penultimate start in 2025 prior to going very close to following up at Musselburgh. Good effort when fourth of 13 in handicap at Thirsk (7f, good) on comeback 20 days ago and he's respected in a first-time tongue tie.

Form: 12012-4

(3)

Novamay²³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Rhys Elliott⁽⁵⁾| T: M Dods| OR: 83| CD

22/1

Completed a hat-trick in 10-runner handicap at Windsor (6f) in July. Found out in a Class 2 at the York Ebor meeting but back on track on the all-weather when fourth of 11 at Newcastle when last seen in September, faring best of those ridden prominently. Worth betting check after 7 months off.

Form: 711104-

(10)

Wreck It Ryley^b¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Rowan Scott| T: A D Brown| OR: 82| BF| CD

9/1

Landed a gamble (headgear change) in 9-runner handicap at Leicester (6f) in April. Caught on the wrong part of the track when fourth of 7 at that same C&D 13 days ago and he's not ruled out.

Form: 810-914

(7)

Grant Wood²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: D Nolan| T: P T Midgley| OR: 82| CD

17/2

Enhanced fine record at Newcastle with back-to-back 6f wins there on first 2 starts this season prior to shaping as if still in form (not ideally placed) when fourth on his hat-trick bid at Wolverhampton. Bit below his best when eighth back at Newcastle last time, though, so bounce back required.

Form: 90-1148

(6)

First Folio^p¹⁸⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: Tom Kiely-Marshall⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 82| D

9/1

Winless in 2025 but proved himself still capable of useful form when third in Great St Wilfrid at C&D in August. Soundly beaten in a better race at Kempton when last seen 6 months ago and he's probably opposable on return.

Form: 263276-

(11)

It Just Takes Time²²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: J Garritty| T: M Walford| OR: 80| CD

10/1

C&D winner. Had tumbled in the weights prior to landing a handicap at Beverley (7f, good to soft) towards the end of last season. Below his best both starts in 2026 and others are preferred for now.

Form: 7137-08

(4)

Modern Times^t⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 75| BF| CD

15/8

Landed the odds in a C&D maiden in June on just his second start for new stable. Shaped well after 10 months off when fifth of 16 in a C&D handicap on return and probably raced closer to the pace than ideal when third of 6 at Pontefract (6f, good) last week. Of firm interest again.

Form: 2/441-53

(2)

Fortamour²²

Age: 10| Weight: 8-13| J: Barry McHugh| T: B Haslam| OR: 74| CD

25/1

Signed off 2025 by winning twice on the all-weather over 6f at Newcastle in November. Below form all 3 starts this year, including on return to this venue last time (6 course wins at Ripon), so probably best passed over.

Form: 511-600

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to board prices only - deduction 5p in the pound

Non-Runners

(8)

Charlie Mason⁴⁰

Weight: 8-12| Age: 5

T: A W Carroll J: Myla Coppins

(9)

Beyond Borders²⁵

Weight: 8-9| Age: 5

T: K Frost J: William Pyle

Forecasts

Modern Times (15/8), Musical Touch (9/2), U Sure Do (11/2), Charlie Mason (7/1), Grant Wood (17/2), First Folio (9/1), Wreck It Ryley (9/1), It Just Takes Time (10/1), Novamay (22/1), Fortamour (25/1), Beyond Borders (25/1)

MODERN TIMES shaped well from a less-than-ideal position here on his return and probably did too much on the front end at Pontefract last time, so can be given another chance to build on that promising comeback. Musical Touch should remain competitive after a 4 lb rise for winning at Southwell, with U Sure Do taken to complete the placings.