Sixtygeesbaby Tackles Ripon's 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-regarded Sixtygeesbaby and American Style are set to clash in a competitive Armstrong Memorial Handicap, marking the opening day of Ripon's 2026 season. Having recently joined the David O'Meara team, Sixtygeesbaby will be making only his second start, following a respectable performance at Doncaster last month. American Style, meanwhile, seeks to regain his winning form after struggling towards the end of the previous season. He returns to the scene of his last victory, over the same distance, and will be hoping for a change in fortune. Modern Times, who hasn't been seen since winning over this course and distance in June last year, is an intriguing contender, receiving a significant weight advantage from the top two. The unexposed Storm Esme aims to overcome a 4lbs rise in the Ripon Silver Bowl Handicap. This filly, owned by Valmont, began her season with two wins from three starts as a juvenile and will be looking to build on that promise. Top-rated Cotai Belle, who finished ahead of Storm Esme in the Two-Year-Old Trophy at Redcar, reopposes, but will need to recapture her early form to succeed. Wyle Cop, having had two All-Weather starts this season, including a win, returns to turf and could perform well. In other news, Sherborne seeks to complete a hat-trick in the Keltruck Ltd Handicap Chase at Hereford, stepping up in class after emphatic wins at Exeter and Ascot. Insurrection, meanwhile, takes a drop in class and trip, which could see him in a more favorable light. Black Hawk Eagle, up 3lbs for his last win, cannot be discounted, given his feather-weight. The day's racing will also feature an 0-85 handicap at Ripon and eight low-grade events from ParisLongchamp.