Our ambassador was on the scene at Ripon this Saturday, appearing live on Sky Sports Racing, and is eagerly anticipating a partnership with a highly regarded two‑year‑old for jockey Archie Watson on Sunday. I was thrilled with Romance Spirit's maiden victory over a mile at Southwell earlier this month, so I expect her to be hard to beat in the Napoleons Casino and Restaurant Leeds Restricted Maiden Stakes (2.15pm) at Ripon on Saturday. The filly, one of five runners in the Garden Racecourse event, is a daughter of Teofilo and was sent out by Marco Botti.
She travelled like the winner for much of the way on the Tapeta surface, but a touch of greenness ultimately cost her. Her pedigree includes a Dubawi mare, providing ample stamina, and the added two furlongs should suit her perfectly.
We have drawn a favourable gate, which should help her negotiate the track's notorious undulations without losing momentum. Seven Questions has already proven his worth at Ripon, a distinct advantage as he lines up for 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 fitness with a solid third place at Pontefract on his first start of the year a few weeks ago. He should be sharper after that run, and 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 – get the latest racing news, interviews and features on your mobile device. Find out more. Turning to Archie Watson's filly Blue Nguru, I am eager to see what she can achieve 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) appears to be an ideal target for our daughter of Blue Point, who I hope will stay on an unchanged mark of 71.
We enjoyed a successful mission to North Yorkshire last weekend when two‑year‑old Niewiadoma scored on debut at Thirsk, so there is optimism that Blue Nguru can follow suit. I will also be riding two horses for trainer Dave Loughnane at Ripon, beginning with Thunda Struck in the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes (1.40pm).
While I know little about her background, 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 (4.45pm). He appears to relish dropping back to a mile, and a three‑pound increase leaves him on a workable weight of just 62. Having already secured victories with three two‑year‑olds in the past week, I am keen to see how Archie Watson's Phalanx Nation performs in the EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes (2.48pm) at Nottingham on Sunday.
She is a big‑boned, scopey filly from Sioux Nation, who has matured early and is ready to give her best on the track. I have worked with her extensively at home and she possesses a brilliant mind; if she can translate that into a race, she will undoubtedly impress her owners, Victorious Forever, who have gifted me countless magical moments alongside the great Bradsell. The traditional 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 eyecatcher. Eve reported that Zavateri had grown considerably over the winter and once again displayed a superb attitude, finishing a credible second. I was also delighted to see Tom Marquand's mount Needle Match hold on to finish fourth at generous odds.
William Haggas' colt shows the potential to improve further over a mile and is certainly one to watch. Touleen fell just short of winning the fillies' trial, the Fred Darling Stakes, but she is returning for her first run since September and is not one to give up easily. I was thrilled for Jack Channon, who claimed victory with Sukanya; she should be well‑placed for the Irish 1000 Guineas.
Hollie Doyle concluded her interview with Sky Sports Racing's Simon Mapletoft, reflecting on the weekend's performances and looking ahead to the upcoming fixtures. The blend of seasoned campaigners and promising juveniles across the Ripon and Nottingham cards illustrates the depth of talent currently circulating in British flat racing, and I remain optimistic that our stable's carefully selected entries will continue to deliver strong results as the season progresses.