Horse Racing Tips Sunday 17th May 2026
RIPON HORSE RACING TIPS
Sunday’s Ripon card looks a really competitive one with a nice mix of handicaps, novice races and a few horses that could still be very well treated off their current marks. The ground and pace angles could prove very important throughout the afternoon and there are definitely a few runners here that look capable of improving plenty from recent outings.
As always at Ripon, track position and race fitness can make a huge difference and there are several horses returning to ideal conditions after eye catching efforts recently.
14:17 Ripon, Anglo Stainless Supporting Yorkshire Wooden Spoon Apprentice Handicap
RUPERT THE PRINCE ran well over course and distance after 100 days off on his penultimate start. No More Bolero got the better of him that day, but this time around I think Rupert wins it.
He will be a lot fitter after that run, but also the spin back over hurdles will have got his fitness back to peak levels. He’s 4lb better off today and I think he goes very close indeed on just his fourth run for the new stable.
14:47 Ripon, Paul Hammond Associates Celebrating Yorkshire Spoon EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes
Karl Burke’s two year old BAI TONG was a beaten odds on favourite on debut, but I think she would have learnt bundles from that run. Some races you watch and just think it was too bad to be true.
They spin the dice again and this time Clifford Lee takes the ride. The odds are short enough, but this looks a very winnable race for a yard that has started to hit form.
15:17 Ripon, Napoleons Casino And Restaurant Leeds Handicap
THE COOKSTOWN CAFU finally got back in the winner’s enclosure last time out on the AW at Newcastle off a career low mark of 59.
He has gone up 5lb for that win, but he seemed to be enjoying himself again and winning with a fair bit in hand. His highest winning mark was 79, so if he is getting back to form we could easily see him going close again on his first run back on turf since October.
15:50 Ripon, British EBF Premier Fillies’ Handicap
Forget the last run on the All Weather, SPACE BEAR was a really ready winner the time before on turf and looking through the opposition here, the race doesn’t look overly deep which could again play into his hands.
Luke Morris is an eye catching booking and although he’s gone up 5lb for that latest turf success, I think getting him back on grass will help massively.
The 7/2 available at the time of writing looks a fair enough price.
16:20 Ripon – ON-COURSE BOOKMAKERS WELCOME YOU TO RIPON FILLIES’ NOVICE STAKES (4)
Ralph Beckett sends ZEN DIVA to Ripon tomorrow and although it’s her first run in 227 days, I think experience could prove vital here.
Unless the main danger BLACK ORCHID is fully tuned up and ready to go first time out, I think ZEN DIVA’s racecourse experience will tell. It does look a two horse race on paper and the even money currently on offer looks very fair.
16:50 Ripon, Swinton Park Silver Anniversary Cup Handicap
FAR AHEAD is again near the bottom of the handicap and now sits around 34lb lower than his opening mark.
He is having absolutely no luck at all lately, but last time out at Beverley he looked to be travelling all over his rivals only to find no way through for the final furlong and a half.
With plenty of pace likely here for him to aim at, you would think there is more improvement to come based on that latest outing.
17:20 Ripon, Mark Leather’s 70th Birthday Handicap, Division I
SIMBA’S PRIDE looked fairly useful on handicap debut last time out at Hamilton Park off a mark of 60. The 3lb rise looks very fair considering once he hit the front he just kept finding more.
You would think he learnt plenty from that run and the 6/4 available at the time of writing looks a decent enough price in fairness.
17:50 Ripon, Mark Leather’s 70th Birthday Handicap, Division II
I’M DAN DARE, which is a brilliant name by the way, seemed to really get the hang of things on his second handicap start. The first time cheekpieces appeared to help massively and he was only just beaten on the nod.
If he improves again from that effort then he should be right in the mix and the 2lb rise looks very lenient in fairness.
HAMILTON PARK HORSE RACING TIPS
Hamilton Park hosts a really interesting flat card with a few lightly raced horses that could still be well ahead of their marks. As always with these early season novice races and handicaps, there could be plenty of improvement to come from several runners and market support close to the off may prove important.
There are also a couple of horses stepping into handicap company for the first time and those types are always worth keeping a close eye on, especially when they have already shown signs of serious ability.
15:45 Hamilton, Enter ITV7 For Free EBF Novice Stakes
Another very tough opening race with not a huge amount of form to work with. When George Boughey has a first time out runner you always tend to take note and in fairness, if his gets heavily backed you would probably want to follow the money.
I’m going to take the chance that experience proves vital here and MIND THOSE STEPS ran a really nice race at Ripon last time out. You could clearly see he was still very green throughout the race, so he is bound to improve a fair bit from that outing.
16:15 Hamilton, Sun’s Save Our Bets Handicap
RED SPELLS DANGER didn’t beat much last time out, but importantly he also never really came off the bridle and looking at the overall time for the 6f contest, it was actually a very smart performance.
This will be his first run in handicap company and to be fair, an opening mark of 79 could end up looking very lenient.
I’m also a fan of MO OF CAIRO, who could get a lovely run into the race at odds of around 10/1.
16:45 Hamilton, Sky Bet Extra Places Handicap
RIDE THE THUNDER has been off the track for 253 days and when last seen he finished second, beaten just 3/4 of a length by today’s favourite VALIANCY.
Since then Roger Varian’s horse has been gelded and if he has strengthened up over the winter, I think he could reverse that form. The 11/4 on RIDE THE THUNDER looks far more value than the 6/4 on the favourite here.
17:15 Hamilton, Sky Bet Build A Bet Handicap
ALPHA MAGIC was off the track for 282 days before his last run 16 days ago and it seemed to me they simply wanted to open the pipes on him. He was awkward leaving the stalls, taken wide and sent flying to the start, this is clearly a horse with plenty of temperament.
I think the run would have done him the world of good. He won over course and distance last June off the same mark he races from tomorrow and teams up again with Billy Garritty, the jockey who rode him to that success.
At 10/1 he looks a cracking each way play.
17:45 Hamilton, Sky Bet Price Boosts Fillies’ Handicap
PLAID for James Fanshawe teams up with Saffie Osbourne for the first time tomorrow. After running into a nice horse in ART GALLERY last time out, I think the extra furlong here is exactly what she needs to get her head in front on just her second handicap start.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see her go off much shorter and I’d happily take the early 5/2 on offer.
18:15 Hamilton, Sky Bet For The Fans Handicap
ROCK OPERA didn’t look entirely happy last time out and was being pushed along for a very long way, but still stayed on to finish third, beaten only around a length.
He now races off a career low mark of 70 having previously been rated as high as 82. I just think at 10/1, for a horse beginning to show signs of revival again, he makes plenty of each way appeal.
18:45 Hamilton, Flutter Proud To Support Young Lives Vs Cancer Apprentice Handicap
LETSBEFRANK ran a cracker last time out at Musselburgh after being off the track for 218 days. Jim Goldie’s horses always seem to do very well up north and they are definitely worth keeping an eye on in the market.
I think he will come on plenty for that comeback run and the 4lb rise in the handicap looks more than workable. He looks a really solid win bet in the lucky last and Lauren Young keeps the ride in this apprentice contest.
STRATFORD HORSE RACING TIPS, SUNDAY 17TH MAY
Stratford hosts an interesting jumps card on Sunday with a mixture of novice hurdles, handicap chases and a National Hunt Flat race to round things off. There are several horses arriving here with strong recent form and a few that could still be very well treated off their current handicap marks.
Ground conditions and fitness levels may prove key throughout the afternoon and there are also a few runners switching disciplines that could unlock further improvement.
14:35 Stratford, Racing Welfare Supporting Mental Health Awareness Novices’ Hurdle
OUR GUIDE won well last time out over 2 miles at Exeter beating a good field and this step up in trip should bring out even more improvement.
On his first run on a racecourse in Ireland he beat the very good ZEUS POWER, who is now rated 146, so OUR GUIDE definitely sets the standard here and will be very tough to beat.
15:05 Stratford, Happy 32nd Birthday Lottie Novices’ Handicap Chase
The Nigel and Willy Twiston Davies yard run MISS DENVER here, who is related to the very good DENMAN.
Rated just 86, I expect her to improve now she has fences to aim at rather than hurdles and this looks a very good opportunity for her to get off the mark over fences.
15:35 Stratford, Deryck Baker Memorial Mares’ Handicap Hurdle
JENA DOUDAIRIES was very impressive last time out, but these types do not always back up those big performances next time.
ALL IN HAND tends to save his best form for this time of year and his recent run came after a year off the track, so he should improve plenty for that outing.
First time blinkers and a return to hurdles make him the selection for this race.
16:05 Stratford, William Austin 50 Year Celebration Mares’ Handicap Chase, Qualifier
A really trappy little race where you could make a case for nearly every runner, but A LITTLE SOMETHING for Emma Lavelle has finished second on her last two starts and gets the vote here.
Running off just a mark of 89, she looks capable of taking this race.
16:35 Stratford, Boss & The Hoggs Live On The 30th May Handicap Hurdle
The unlucky loser FRANK STAMPER knocked over a hurdle on the run in last time out and that probably cost him the race.
To only be nudged up 1lb for that effort and still race off just 99, he looks capable of going one better here.
17:05 Stratford, Ladies Day On Sunday 19th July Handicap Chase
VIP Elite NAP RACE
17:35 Stratford, Family Day On Sunday 12th July Open Maiden National Hunt Flat Race
A National Hunt Flat race rounds off the card and James Owen tends to do very well in these contests.
With Sean Bowen booked and the horse related to several very useful types, connections will likely expect a very big run and it would be no surprise at all to see this go off favourite and win the final race on the card.