Our ambassador was on the scene at Ripon on Saturday, broadcasting live on Sky Sports Racing, and is eager to team up with a highly regarded two‑year‑old for jockey Archie Watson on Sunday. I was thrilled with the debut performance of Romance Spirit in a one‑mile maiden at Southwell earlier this month, so I anticipate she will be difficult to beat in the Napoleons Casino and Restaurant Leeds Restricted Maiden Stakes (2.15 pm) at Ripon on Saturday. Romance Spirit, one of five runners at the Garden Racecourse, is a daughter of Teofilo trained by Marco Botti. She travelled like the leader for much of the way on the Tapeta, but a touch of greenness saw her lose the advantage in the closing stages.
Her pedigree includes a Dubawi mare, giving her a solid stamina foundation, and she is definitely ready to stretch out for the extra two furlongs. The draw looks favorable, which should help her handle the track's notorious undulations. Seven Questions has already shown his class at Ripon, an edge that should serve him well in the afternoon's feature sprint, the Ripon Silver Sprint Trophy Handicap (4.10 pm).
He is a former winner for trainer George Scott, has been heavily campaigned, and recently dropped back to a tempting handicap mark, confirming his soundness with a solid third at Pontefract on his first start of the year a few weeks ago. I expect him to be sharper for this run; although a higher draw would be preferable, I am confident he can deliver a strong performance from the low draw, the best he has enjoyed since his Leicester nursery win. Never miss a story with the latest racing news, interviews and features on your phone. Find out more.
I am also looking forward to seeing what Archie Watson can achieve with the filly Blue Nguru this season after her breakthrough win over the minimum distance on the all‑weather at Lingfield Park in December. Stepping up to six furlongs in the Sky Sports Racing In HD Handicap (5.20 pm) seems an ideal test for this daughter of Blue Point, who I hope will stay on an unchanged mark of 71.
Our recent trip to North Yorkshire was a success when two‑year‑old Niewiadoma won on debut at Thirsk, and I hope Blue Nguru can replicate that form. At Ripon I will ride two horses for trainer Dave Loughnane, starting with Thunda Struck in the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes (1.40 pm). I am not overly familiar with her, but I did claim a win at Chester last year for her enthusiastic owners, the Let's Be Lucky Partnership.
A breakthrough victory at Nottingham gives her stablemate The Sweet Escape a promising run in the Sue's 60th Birthday Occasion Handicap (4.45 pm). He appears to relish dropping back to a mile, and a three‑pound rise leaves him on a workable mark of just 62.
Having already secured three wins with two‑year‑olds in the past week, I am eager to see what Archie Watson can do with Phalanx Nation in the EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes (2.48 pm) at Nottingham on Sunday. She is a big‑hearted Sioux Nation filly who has come to hand early and is ready to take the track. I have worked with her extensively at the yard, and she possesses a brilliant mind. If she can translate her training sessions into race‑day performance, I am confident she will impress the owners at Victorious Forever, who have given me countless magical moments with the great Bradsell.
The traditional Classic trials at Newbury last weekend did not disappoint, with the Group Three Greenham Stakes offering valuable insight. While Karl Burke's Alparslan dominated his rivals, I was most impressed by Eve Johnson Houghton's Zavateri, a serious eyecatcher who has grown markedly over the winter and displayed an excellent attitude, finishing a respectable second. I was also pleased to see Tom Marquand's mount Needle Match hold on for fourth place at generous odds.
William Haggas' colt shows potential to improve over a mile and is one to watch closely. Touleen fell short in the fillies' trial, the Fred Darling Stakes, but she returns for her first start since September and is not one to give up easily. I was delighted for Jack Channon, who claimed victory with Sukanya; she will be well‑placed for a target such as the Irish 1000 Guineas. Overall, the weekend highlighted a blend of promising juveniles and seasoned campaigners, each offering a different narrative for the upcoming season.
Hollie Doyle's insights, shared with Sky Sports Racing's Simon Mapletoft, underscore the depth of talent across the fields and the strategic decisions that will shape future successes.