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 jockey Archie Watson on Sunday. I was thrilled by Romance Spirit's first outing over a mile at Southwell in a maiden race earlier this month, so I anticipate she will be a tough competitor in the Napoleons Casino and Restaurant Leeds Restricted Maiden Stakes at 2:15 p.m. on Saturday at Ripon. Among the five runners at the Garden Racecourse, 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.
She comes from a Dubawi mare, meaning stamina is abundant in her pedigree, and she should relish the extra two furlongs on offer. Our draw is also favorable, giving her a good chance to handle the track's notorious undulations. Seven Questions has already proven his mettle at this venue, which should give him an edge in the afternoon’s headline sprint, the Ripon Silver Sprint Trophy Handicap at 4:10 p.m.
The colt, a former winner for trainer George Scott, has been heavily campaigned but recently dropped back to an attractive rating and confirmed his fitness with a solid third place at Pontefract in his first start of the year a few weeks ago. He is likely to be sharper after that run, and although a higher draw would have been preferable, I expect a strong performance from the low draw he last used when winning a Leicester nursery. Never miss a story – the latest racing news, interviews and features are available on your phone. Find out more.
I am also keen to see 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 Watch Sky Sports Racing In HD Handicap at 5:20 p.m. looks ideal for this daughter of Blue Point, who I hope will stay on an unchanged mark of 71. Our successful mission to North Yorkshire last weekend, where two‑year‑old Niewiadoma won on debut at Thirsk, gives us confidence that Blue Nguru can follow suit.
I have two rides at Ripon for trainer Dave Loughnane, beginning with Thunda Struck in the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes at 1:40 p.m. I know little about the filly, 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 realistic chance in the Sue’s 60th Birthday Occasion Handicap at 4:45 p.m.; he seemed to relish dropping back to a mile and a three‑pound increase leaves him on a workable rating of just 62.
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 at Nottingham on Sunday at 2:48 p.m. She is a big, scopey filly from Sioux Nation who has come to hand early and is ready to hit the track. I have worked with her extensively in training, and she possesses a brilliant mind. If she can translate that work ethic into a race, I am confident she will make a strong impression for her owners, Victorious Forever, who have given me countless magical moments with the great Bradsell.
The latest horse‑racing news, interviews and features are available from Sky Sports Racing. The traditional Classic trials at Newbury last weekend lived up to expectations, with the Group Three Greenham Stakes proving particularly insightful. While Karl Burke’s Alparslan dominated his rivals, I was most impressed by Eve Johnson‑Houghton's Zavateri, a serious eyecatcher who has grown considerably over the winter and again displayed an excellent attitude, finishing second.
I was also delighted to see Tom Marquand’s mount Needle Match hold on for fourth place at long odds. William Haggas’s colt shows great potential over a mile and is definitely one to watch. Touleen fell just short in the fillies’ trial, the Fred Darling Stakes, but she is returning for her first run since September and is not one to give up easily. I was thrilled for Jack Channon, who claimed victory with Sukanya; she will be well‑placed for the Irish 1000 Guineas.
Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft, sharing her insights on the day’s action and looking ahead to the upcoming fixtures across the season.