Ripon Racecourse will open its gates for a seven‑horse field on Silver Trophy day, with live coverage on Sky Sports Racing at 4:10 p.m. The highlight of the Ripon Silver Sprint Trophy Handicap sees owners Fitri and Jim Hay placing a strong bet on two of their runners, Seven Questions and Dyonisos, as they line up against six other contenders. Trainer Robert Cowell has entered Seven Questions, a colt who impressed on his return to the track with a third‑place finish at Pontefract.
Cowell believes the horse will be well‑placed to hit the frame this time, especially after a modest one‑pound drop in the handicap marks, which should give the horse a slight edge over the competition. On the opposite side of the paddock, Ian Williams’ Dyonisos heads the market as the early favourite. The horse was runner‑up in his seasonal re‑appearance at Newmarket and is expected to be in peak condition for this run under jockey Luke Morris. An interesting side note is that Dyonisos wears the same colours as the market leader, adding a visual cue for punters tracking the race.
Amie Waugh, riding a useful three‑pound claimer named Vince L’Amour, also has a realistic chance if the horse can improve on his runner‑up performance at Musselburgh the previous day. Among the remaining runners, Castan earned a win at Southwell earlier in the month, while Dream Composer has been significantly penalised in the weights and could be a factor if the handicap system favours him.
Tiva, a proven course‑and‑distance winner, cannot be dismissed either. In a separate contest, Stressfree and Prydwen will clash in a small but competitive field for the M.C.H.
Hutchinson Memorial Trophy Handicap, also at Ripon. George Scott takes the reins on Prydwen, a reliable performer who has delivered ten wins for his connections. Prydwen ran a solid race to chase home Berkshire Shadow in the All‑Weather Easter Plate Marathon earlier this month and remains a strong contender despite a two‑pound increase in his handicap rating.
Recent form for Stressfree shows an excellent fifth‑place finish in the November Handicap at Doncaster, and the horse now carries just four pounds more than when he won at Haydock in May, suggesting he is still in good shape. Meanwhile, Dancingwithmyself, after a second‑place finish at Musselburgh despite interference, is rated highly but the step back to 12 furlongs may raise concerns about stamina. Prince Of The Seas, recently transferred to the care of trainer David O’Meara from Ralph Beckett, is looking to rebound after a disappointing eighth of nine at Newcastle in September.
Previously a solid performer in Class 2 handicaps, the horse could be revitalised by the new training environment and may feature in the finishing order if he finds his form again. Over at Doncaster, the British Stallion Studs EBF Premier Fillies’ Handicap will feature a quality seven‑horse field led by Naga and Golden Muse. John and Thady Gosden will ride Naga, a filly who struggled to win in her first four starts but broke through with a fair‑priced win at Chelmsford and followed up with another victory at Newmarket. The Gosdens hope she can add a third or fourth win to her record in this handicap.
Golden Muse is chasing a hat‑trick after victories at Wolverhampton and Southwell in March. Switching to turf under jockey P.J.
McDonald, she starts with an opening mark of 80, which may undervalue her ability given her previous win came with plenty of ground to spare. Amora Queen, trained by Charlie Johnston, won her first two starts before being thrown into the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile. The step down to a handicap should suit her well, and she is expected to be among the leading finishers. Rockin’ The Boat, who showed improvement with a second‑place finish on his re‑appearance for David Menuisier, also has a credible chance.
In the Maiden Fillies’ Stakes at Doncaster, scheduled for 5:10 p.m., the pair Lunar Melody and Proposal will contest a promising free‑race replay. Keep an eye on Dream Vega, a sister to Group 1 winner Dreamloper, as she could surprise the field. Finally, at Southwell’s 6:30 p.m.
Book The Bistro In Sherwood Restaurant Novice Stakes, Kenneth – a horse related to Gregory, Lionel, Duncan and Samuel – will post for the Gosden team. He will face the well‑fancied Chasing Time and Birgham Dub in what promises to be a competitive contest. All of these stories and more can be followed through Sky Sports Racing, which provides the latest horse‑racing news, interviews and features. For fans who never want to miss a beat, the network’s mobile app delivers real‑time updates, video highlights and expert analysis straight to your phone, ensuring you stay informed about every twist and turn in the racing calendar.