Our ambassador will be on the scene at Ripon this Saturday, featured 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 difficult to beat in the Napoleons Casino and Restaurant Leeds Restricted Maiden Stakes (2.15pm) at Ripon on Saturday. The filly, one of five runners at the Garden Racecourse, is a daughter of Teofilo trained by Marco Botti.
She travelled like the leader for much of the way on the Tapeta surface, but a touch of greenness saw her lose the edge in the final stages. Her pedigree includes a Dubawi mare, giving her plenty of stamina, and the added two furlongs should suit her perfectly.
We also have a favourable draw, which should help her cope with the track's notorious undulations. Seven Questions, already proven at Ripon, will contest the afternoon's feature sprint, the Ripon Silver Sprint Trophy Handicap (4.10pm).
The colt, a former George Scott trainee, 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 now, and although a higher draw would be preferable, I expect a strong performance from the lowest post he has used since winning a Leicester nursery. The combination of his experience and the lighter mark should give him a real chance.
Fans can stay up‑to‑date with the latest racing news, interviews and features on their mobile devices – never miss a story. Turning to Archie Watson's filly Blue Nguru, I am keen to see how she progresses 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 (5.20pm) looks like an ideal test for this daughter of Blue Point, who I hope will stay on an unchanged weight of 71 pounds. Our recent mission to North Yorkshire was a success when two‑year‑old Niewiadoma captured her debut at Thirsk, and I hope Blue Nguru can emulate that performance. I will also be riding two horses for Dave Loughnane at Ripon, starting with Thunda Struck in the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes (1.40pm).
While I know little about Thunda Struck, I did secure a winner for the enthusiastic owners of the Let's Be Lucky Partnership at Chester last year, so expectations are high. A breakthrough win at Nottingham gives her stablemate The Sweet Escape a realistic chance in the Sue's 60th Birthday Occasion Handicap (4.45pm). Dropping back to a mile seems to suit him, and a modest three‑pound weight increase 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 what Archie Watson's Phalanx Nation can achieve in the EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes (2.48pm) at Nottingham on Sunday.
She is a big‑boned, scopey filly from Sioux Nation who has come to hand early and is ready to hit the track. I have worked with her extensively at home and she possesses a sharp mind.
If she can translate that training into race‑day performance, she will undoubtedly impress her owners, Victorious Forever, who have given me countless magical moments alongside the great Bradsell. The traditional Classic trial meetings at Newbury last weekend delivered plenty of insight, particularly the Group Three Greenham Stakes. While Karl Burke's Alparslan dominated his rivals, I was most taken by Eve Johnson‑Houghton's Zavateri, a genuine eyecatcher who has grown markedly over the winter and displayed an admirable attitude to finish second. I was also pleased to see Tom Marquand’s mount Needle Match hold on for fourth place despite long odds.
William Haggas’s colt shows significant potential over a mile and will be one to watch closely. Touleen fell just short in the fillies’ trial, the Fred Darling Stakes, but she returns for her first run since September and remains a resilient contender. Congratulations are due to Jack Channon, who rode Sukanya to victory; she is now well‑placed for the Irish 1000 Guineas. Hollie Doyle shared her thoughts with Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft, highlighting the excitement surrounding the upcoming races and the depth of talent on display across the British racing circuit.