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 by 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 and Restaurant Leeds Restricted Maiden Stakes at 2:15 p.m. on Saturday at Ripon. The filly, one of five runners at the Garden Racecourse, is a daughter of Teofilo trained by Marco Botti.
She travelled like the winner for much of the way on the Tapeta surface, but a touch of greenness finally caught up with her. Her pedigree includes a Dubawi mare, giving her plenty of stamina, and she is certainly ready for the extra two furlongs on the day.
We have drawn a favourable stall, which should help her handle the track's notorious undulations. Seven Questions has already shown his class at this venue, an advantage as he lines up for the afternoon's feature sprint, the Ripon Silver Sprint Trophy Handicap at 4:10 p.m. He is a former George Scott winner, has been well‑tried, and recently dropped to an attractive handicap mark, confirming his soundness with a solid third place at Pontefract on his first start of the year a few weeks ago. I expect him to be sharper after that run; although a higher draw would have been preferable, I anticipate a strong performance from the low draw he last won from in a Leicester nursery.
Never miss a story with the latest racing news, interviews and features on 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 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 recent mission to North Yorkshire was a success when two‑year‑old Niewiadoma claimed victory on debut at Thirsk, so we hope Blue Nguru can follow that pattern.
I will ride two horses at Ripon for Dave Loughnane, beginning with Thunda Struck in the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes at 1:40 p.m. I know little about her, but I did secure a win 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 appears to enjoy dropping back to a mile, and a three‑pound rise leaves him on a workable mark of 62. Having already celebrated victories with three two‑year‑olds in the past week, I am eager to see how Archie Watson's Phalanx Nation performs in the EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes at Nottingham on Sunday at 2:48 p.m. She is a big, scopey Sioux Nation filly 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 impress her owners, Victorious Forever, who have given me countless magical moments with the great Bradsell.
The traditional Classic trials at Newbury last weekend lived up to expectations, with the Group Three Greenham Stakes providing valuable insight. 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 had grown considerably over the winter and once again displayed a wonderful attitude, finishing second.
I was also pleased to see Tom Marquand's mount Needle Match hold on for fourth place at long odds. William Haggas' colt shows the potential to improve further over a mile and is definitely one to watch. Touleen fell short in the Fred Darling fillies' trial, but she returns for her first run since September and is not the type to give up easily.
I was thrilled for Jack Channon, who won the race on Sukanya; she should be well‑placed for the Irish 1000 Guineas. Hollie Doyle was interviewed by Sky Sports Racing's Simon Mapletoft, sharing her thoughts on the day’s events and her outlook for the upcoming fixtures.