Thursday promises to be an exciting day of racing, with events from Hereford and Ripon broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing. The highly touted Sixtygeesbaby and American Style are set to clash in a competitive Armstrong Memorial Handicap, marking the beginning of Ripon's 2026 season.
Following a recent transfer to David O'Meara's stable, Sixtygeesbaby is poised for his second start, having shown promise in a decent contest at Doncaster last month. American Style, despite struggling to find his winning form towards the end of last season, has the potential to excel if circumstances favor him, particularly as he returns to the site of his most recent victory.
Modern Times, having been off the scene since his win over this course and distance in June last year, emerges as an intriguing contender, benefiting from a significant weight advantage over the top contenders. Storm Esme, relatively untested, seeks to overcome a 4lbs rise in the Ripon Silver Bowl Handicap. After a successful juvenile season, including wins at Newcastle and Leicester, Storm Esme looks to commence her current campaign on a strong note.
Top-rated Cotai Belle, who finished ahead of Storm Esme in the Listed race at Redcar, faces a challenging task, being 4lbs worse off at the weights and needing to recapture her early-season form to secure a win. Wyle Cop, with two All-Weather starts this season, including a win and a third-place finish, has the advantage of fitness and could perform well upon returning to turf.
Sherborne, aiming for a hat-trick, steps up in class in the Keltruck Ltd Handicap Chase at Hereford, following convincing wins at Exeter and Ascot. Given his impressive margins of victory, it's plausible that Joe Tizzard's gelding could navigate this rise in class with ease. Insurrection, dropping down in class after a disappointing finish in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham, also sees a significant reduction in trip, which could work in his favor. Black Hawk Eagle, with a 3lbs increase for his win at Chepstow, cannot be overlooked due to his light weight.
The day concludes with a competitive 0-85 handicap at Ripon and eight races from ParisLongchamp, featuring lower-grade action.