Our ambassador was on the scene at Ripian on Saturday, broadcasting live on Sky Sports Racing, and she is eager to team up with a highly regarded two‑year‑old for jockey Archie Watson on Sunday. I was thrilled with 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 contender 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 Teofilo‑sired filly, trained by Marco Botti, tracked the leader for much of the way on the Tapeta surface, but inexperience eventually saw her lose ground.
She is out of a Dubawi mare, which means stamina is abundant in her pedigree, and the added two furlongs should suit her perfectly. Our draw is favourable, so I am hopeful she will handle the track's notorious undulations without difficulty. Seven Questions has already demonstrated his ability at Ripon, which gives him an edge in the afternoon's feature sprint, the Ripon Silver Sprint Trophy Handicap at 4:10 p.m.
A former winner for trainer George Scott, Seven Questions has been heavily campaigned but recently dropped to an attractive handicap mark and confirmed his fitness with a solid third place at Pontefract on his first start of the year a few weeks ago. He should arrive sharper for the Ripon sprint, and although I would have liked a better draw, I expect a strong performance from a low draw, the best he has had since winning a nursery at Leicester.
Never miss a story with the latest racing news, interviews and features on your mobile device. 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. Moving up to six furlongs in the Watch Sky Sports Racing In HD Handicap at 5:20 p.m.
looks ideal for our Blue Point daughter, who I hope will stay on an unchanged mark of 71 pounds. We enjoyed a successful trip to North Yorkshire last weekend when two‑year‑old Niewiadoma won on debut at Thirsk, so I am hopeful Blue Nguru can replicate that success.
I have two rides at Ripon for trainer Dave Loughnane, starting with Thunda Struck in the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes at 1:40 p.m. I know little about her, but I did guide 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 at 4:45 p.m.
He seemed to relish dropping back to a mile, and a three‑pound increase leaves him on a workable mark of just 62 pounds. Having already secured three victories 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 at 2:48 p.m.
on Sunday at Nottingham. She is a large, scopey filly from Sioux Nation bloodlines who has come to hand early and is ready to give her all on the track. I have worked with her extensively in the yard, and she possesses a keen mind. If she can translate her training into a race performance, I am confident she will impress her owners, Victorious Forever, who have given me many magical moments with the great Bradsell.
The classic trial meetings at Newbury last weekend did not disappoint, with the Group Three Greenham Stakes offering particular insight. 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 the colt had grown substantially over the winter and once again displayed an excellent attitude, finishing a close second. I was also pleased 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 certainly one to watch. Touleen fell short of victory in the fillies' trial, the Fred Darling Stakes, but she returns for her first run since September and is not the type to give up easily. I was delighted for Jack Channon, who won the race with Sukanya, and she will be well‑placed for the Irish 1000 Guineas.
Hollie Doyle concluded her remarks with Sky Sports Racing's Simon Mapletoft.