Our ambassador will be on the scene at Ripian this Saturday, broadcasting live on Sky Sports Racing, and she is eager to team up with a well‑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 meeting, and the daughter of Teofilo, trained by Marco Botti, travelled like a front‑runner for much of the way on the Tapeta.
However, a touch of inexperience ultimately cost her. Her pedigree includes a Dubawi mare, meaning stamina is plentiful in her bloodlines, and she is certainly ready to take on the extra two furlongs. Our draw is also favourable, which should help her handle the notorious undulations of the course. Seven Questions has already shown he can handle the track, an advantage as he targets the afternoon’s featured sprint, the Ripon Silver Sprint Trophy Handicap (4.10 pm).
A former winner for trainer George Scott, Seven Questions has been heavily campaigned 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 while I would have liked a higher draw, I expect a strong performance from the low post, the best position he has enjoyed since winning a nursery at Leicester. Never miss a story – get the latest racing news, interviews and features straight to your phone.
Find out more. I am also keen to see what Archie Watson’s filly Blue Nguru can achieve 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 (5.20 pm) looks ideal for our daughter of Blue Point, who I hope will be well‑treated off an unchanged rating of 71. 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 horses at Ripon for Dave Loughnane, beginning with Thunda Struck in the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes (1.40 pm). I don’t know much about her, but I did secure 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 seemed to relish dropping back to a mile, and a three‑pound weight increase leaves him on a workable rating of just 62.
Having already secured wins 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‑boned, scopey Sioux Nation filly who has come to hand early and is ready to go to the track. I have ridden her in many of her workouts at home, and she possesses a brilliant mind.
If she can translate that schooling 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, of course. See the latest horse racing news, interviews and features from Sky Sports Racing. The traditional Classic trials at Newbury last weekend lived up to expectations, with the Group Three Greenham Stakes providing particularly useful insights.
While Karl Burke’s Alparslan dominated his rivals, I was most impressed by Eve Johnson‑Houghton’s Zavateri, a genuine eye‑catcher. Eve noted that he has grown considerably over the winter, and once again he displayed an excellent attitude, finishing second. I was also delighted to see Tom Marquand’s mount Needle Match hold on to finish fourth at long odds. William Haggas’ colt shows the potential to improve over a mile and is definitely one to watch.
Touleen fell just short of winning the fillies’ trial, the Fred Darling, but she is due back for her first run since September and is not the type to give up easily. I was thrilled for Jack Channon, who claimed the race with Sukanya; she will be well‑placed for the Irish 1000 Guineas. Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft.