Mashaari, a winner at York last autumn who changed hands subsequently for 160,000 guineas at Newmarket Sales, bids to try to recoup a tiny fraction of his vast purchase price at Ripon tomorrow.

Previously trained by John Gosden for Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, Mashaari is now under the care of Norton trainer Brian Ellison, who handles him for Phil Martin, an owner more usually associated with jumps racing.

Mashaari failed to cut any ice in a couple of runs over hurdles this winter and was put aside for the Flat campaign, which starts tomorrow in the £25,000 At The Races Handicap over two miles.

The four-year-old beat well-known local horse Cape Tribulation, talented on the level and over obstacles, on Knavesmire in his final start last term and is plainly a decent staying horse on the Flat.

This race often acts as a springboard to next month’s Chester Cup and among the opposition is Lady Kashaan and Moidore, who fought out a terrific finish at Musselburgh last month. Both those horses have strong claims once more, but marginal preference is for Mashaari to go a little way to justifying his hefty price tag.

The RiponBET Patent Conditions Stakes offers a good opportunity to Voodoo Prince to begin his season with a win.

Trained at Newmarket by Ed Dunlop, the five-year-old, a son of the brilliant Ouija Board, won on this course last season under Graham Lee, who takes the mount again tomorrow, and ended the campaign with an excellent third in the November Handicap at Doncaster. He should go well and is awarded the nap vote.

Unless any of the newcomers in the opening RiponBET Maiden Auction Fillies’ Stakes is any great shakes, Hello Beautiful may be the one to be on following her promising debut at Pontefract earlier in the week.

Ann Duffield’s juvenile chased home the once-raced Mop’s Angel, showing definite signs of ability. Connections will surely be hoping this second start does not come too quickly for her.

Also worth noting at Ripon are Muffin McLeay (2.20), a course winner last season who may now be coming to hand again after a couple of outings, and The Art Of Racing (4.40), who went down by only a head to Mayfield Girl at Nottingham on his reappearance. That form has been franked since with the Mel Brittain-trained winner scoring again at Thirsk last Saturday.

At Doncaster tomorrow night, Richard Hughes can ride a couple of winners.

The champion jockey teams up with the promising Jubilante in the China Rose Of Bawtry Maiden Fillies’ Stakes and also Lions Arch, a winner at Lingfield in the Glendennings Of Bawtry Handicap. He is introduced on a fair handicap rating of 80.

Estemaala is an interesting runner for David O’Meara in the Cooper & Griffin Wine Bar of Bawtry Fillies’ Handicap.

Previously trained by Marcus Tregoning and the winner of her only start to date, the four-year-old cost 21,000gns. It may be significant that OMeara has booked Kieren Fallon for the mount.


Racing selections

Ripon tomorrow
1.50 Hello Beautiful, 2.20 Muffin McLeay, 2.55 Mashaari, 3.30 Availed Speaker, 4.05 Voodoo Prince (NAP), 4.40 The Art Of Racing, 5.15 Havana Cooler.

Doncaster tomorrow
5.10 Rasaman, 5.40 Haikbidiac, 6.15 Jubilante, 6.45 Lions Arch, 7.15 Modern Romance, 7.45 Proofreader, 8.15 Estemaala.

Tomorrow’s other meetings: Haydock, Leicester, Market Rasen and Sandown.

Today’s meetings: Chepstow, Doncaster, Perth, Plumpton and Sandown.