Our ambassador is 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 a tough contender in the Napoleons Casino and Restaurant Leeds Restricted Maiden Stakes at 2:15 p.m.
on Saturday at Ripon. Romance Spirit is one of five runners in the Garden Racecourse event. She is a daughter of the champion sire Teofilo, trained by Marco Botti, and she travelled like a winner for much of the way on the Tapeta surface. However, a touch of greenness ultimately cost her the race.
Her pedigree includes a Dubawi mare, giving her a solid stamina foundation, and she is certainly ready to stretch out an additional two furlongs. The draw is favourable, which should help her manage the track's notorious undulations.
Seven Questions has already shown his class at Ripon, an advantage that should serve him well in the afternoon's feature sprint, the Ripon Silver Sprint Trophy Handicap at 4:10 p.m. This horse previously won for trainer George Scott, has been heavily campaigned, and recently confirmed his fitness with a strong third place at Pontefract on his first start of the year. He is likely to be sharper after that run, and although I would have liked a better draw, I expect a solid performance from him, especially given that the current mark is the lowest he has carried 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's filly Blue Nguru can achieve this season after her breakthrough win over the minimum distance on the all‑weather surface at Lingfield Park in December. Stepping up to six furlongs in the Watch Sky Sports Racing In HD Handicap at 5:20 p.m.
appears to be the perfect target for this daughter of Blue Point, who I hope will stay on an unchanged rating of 71. Our recent mission to North Yorkshire was a success when two‑year‑old Niewiadoma won on debut at Thirsk, so I am hopeful that Blue Nguru can replicate that form.
I will be riding two horses at Ripon for trainer Dave Loughnane, starting with Thunda Struck in the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes at 1:40 p.m. I don’t know much about Thunda Struck, but I did deliver 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 appeared to enjoy dropping back to a mile, and a three‑pound increase places 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 the Sioux Nation line, who has shown early promise and is ready to take on the track. I have worked with her extensively in training, and she possesses a keen mind. If she can translate that intelligence into racecraft, I am confident she will impress her owners, Victorious Forever, who have given me countless magical moments with the great Bradsell.
See the latest horse racing news, interviews and features from Sky Sports Racing. The traditional Classic trial meetings at Newbury last weekend did not disappoint, with the Group Three Greenham Stakes standing out as especially informative. While Karl Burke's Alparslan dominated his rivals, I was most impressed by Eve Johnson‑Houghton's Zavateri, a genuine eye‑catcher. Eve reported that Zavateri had grown considerably over the winter and once again 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 has the potential to improve over a mile and is certainly one to watch. Touleen fell short of victory in the fillies’ trial, the Fred Darling Stakes, but she is making her first start since September and remains a fighter. I was thrilled for Jack Channon, who claimed the race with Sukanya; she will be a strong contender for the Irish 1000 Guineas.
Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft, sharing insights into the day’s performances and looking ahead to future targets for her stable. Overall, the weekend’s programme at Ripon and Newbury provided a blend of promising juveniles, seasoned campaigners stepping up in distance, and strategic placements for upcoming classic trials.
With several promising two‑year‑olds already in the bag and a solid plan for the upcoming races, the team remains optimistic about building momentum toward the spring classics and beyond.