Sixtygeesbaby Tackles Ripon Feature Event

Thursday promises to be an action-packed day of racing, with events from Hereford and Ripon broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing. The highly-rated Sixtygeesbaby and American Style are set to clash in the competitive Armstrong Memorial Handicap, marking the start of Ripon's 2026 season. Having joined the David O'Meara team in March, Sixtygeesbaby will be making only his second start for the new yard. His previous outing at Doncaster last month saw him finish a respectable distance behind the leaders, and he is expected to perform better this time around. American Style, on the other hand, has been struggling to replicate his past successes, having lost his way towards the end of last season. However, he has the potential to bounce back, especially since he will be competing on the same track where he achieved his most recent victory. Another contender, Modern Times, is returning to the scene after a lengthy absence, having last won at this course and distance in June of the previous year. He will be receiving a significant amount of weight from the top two contenders, making him a formidable opponent. Storm Esme, an untested filly, will be looking to build on her promising start to the season, having won two out of three races as a juvenile. Her first outing was at Newcastle, where she emerged victorious by a narrow margin, but her subsequent performance in the Two-Year-Old Trophy at Redcar was less impressive. Nevertheless, she quickly regained her footing with a win at Leicester, demonstrating her potential for growth. Cotai Belle, who finished two places ahead of Storm Esme in the same Listed race at Redcar, will be reopposing her rival in this event. However, she will be at a disadvantage due to the weight difference. Wyle Cop, having already competed in two All-Weather events this season, will be looking to carry his form over to the turf. Meanwhile, Sherborne will be attempting to complete a hat-trick in the Keltruck Ltd Handicap Chase at Hereford. His previous victories came in mid-March at Exeter and later that month at Ascot, with impressive margins that suggest he may be capable of handling the step up in class. Insurrection, having finished down the field in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham, will be dropping down in class and distance, which could work in his favor. Black Hawk Eagle, who won his last outing at Chepstow, will be competing with a feather-weight, making him a difficult contender to dismiss. The day's events will also include eight races from ParisLongchamp, featuring low-grade action.