Our ambassador will be on the scene at Ripon this Saturday, broadcasting live on Sky Sports Racing, and is eager to team up with a highly regarded two‑year‑old for Archie Watson on Sunday. I was thrilled with Romance Spirit’s maiden victory over a mile at Southwell earlier this month, so I anticipate she will be difficult to beat in the Napoleons Casino & Restaurant Leeds Restricted Maiden Stakes (2:15 pm) at Ripon on Saturday. She is one of five runners in the Garden Racecourse’s event.
The filly, a daughter of Teofilo trained by Marco Botti, tracked the leader for much of the way on the Tapeta surface, but a touch of inexperience ultimately cost her. Her dam is a Dubawi mare, which means stamina is abundant in her pedigree, and she is certainly capable of handling the added two furlongs. Our draw is favourable, and I hope she will manage the track’s notorious undulations without difficulty.
Seven Questions has already proven his worth at Ripon, a clear advantage as he targets the afternoon’s feature sprint, the Ripon Silver Sprint Trophy Handicap (4:10 pm). A former winner for trainer George Scott, Seven Questions has been well‑tried but recently dropped to an attractive weight and confirmed his soundness with a solid third place at Pontefract on his first start of the year a few weeks ago. He should be sharper after that run, and although a higher draw would have been preferable, I expect a strong performance from the lowest post he has carried since his Leicester nursery win.
Never miss a story – get the latest racing news, interviews and features straight to your phone. Find out more. I am also looking forward to seeing what Archie Watson’s filly Blue Nguru can achieve this season after her breakthrough win over the minimum distance on the all‑weather track at Lingfield Park in December.
Stepping up to six furlongs in the Watch Sky Sports Racing In HD Handicap (5:20 pm) appears ideal for our daughter of Blue Point, who I hope will stay on her unchanged mark of 71 pounds. We enjoyed a successful mission to North Yorkshire last weekend when two‑year‑old Niewiadoma won on debut at Thirsk, so I am hopeful Blue Nguru can follow suit. I will ride two entries at Ripon for Dave Loughnane, beginning with Thunda Struck in the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes (1:40 pm). I do not know much about her, but I did ride a winner at Chester last year for her enthusiastic owners, the Let’s Be Lucky Partnership.
A breakthrough win at Nottingham gives her stablemate The Sweet Escape a promising run in the Sue’s 60th Birthday Occasion Handicap (4:45 pm). He seemed to relish dropping back to a mile, and a three‑pound increase leaves him on a workable weight of just 62 pounds.
Having already secured victories with three two‑year‑olds in the past week, I am eager to see what Archie Watson’s Phalanx Nation can accomplish in the EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes (2:48 pm) at Nottingham on Sunday. She is a big‑bodied Sioux Nation filly who has come to hand early and is ready to hit the track. I have worked with her extensively in the stable, and she possesses a keen mind. If she can translate her training into a race‑day performance, I am confident she will impress her owners, Victorious Forever, who have given me countless magical moments with the great Bradsell, of course.
See the latest horse racing news, interviews and features from Sky Sports Racing. The traditional Classic trials at Newbury last weekend did not disappoint, with the Group Three Greenham Stakes proving particularly informative. While Karl Burke’s Alparslan dominated his rivals, I was most impressed by Eve Johnson‑Houghton’s Zavateri, a serious eyecatcher. Eve noted that he has grown considerably over the winter and once again displayed an excellent attitude, finishing a close second.
I was also delighted to see Tom Marquand’s mount Needle Match hold on to finish fourth at long odds. William Haggas’s colt has the potential to improve further over a mile and is certainly one to watch.
Touleen fell short of winning the fillies’ trial, the Fred Darling Stakes, but she is making her first run since September and is not one to give up easily. I was thrilled for Jack Channon, who claimed victory with Sukanya, and she will be well‑placed for the Irish 1000 Guineas. Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft.