Champion jockey Ryan Moore, a rare visitor to Ripon, can make his presence felt at Yorkshire’s Garden Racecourse tomorrow evening.
Moore, who come Saturday will be aboard Workforce in the Epsom Derby, has ridden in only two races at Ripon in the last five years, and failed to win either of them.
Hopefully, it will be a different story aboard Timeless Stride in the Ripon Farm Services Handicap over six furlongs.
A gelded son of Kyllachy, Timeless Stride, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, who chased home Cape Blanco in York’s Dante Stakes last month, broke his maiden at Nottingham four weeks ago.
The handicapper has given him a mark of just 76 for that performance, which looks a useful rating for a horse who has had just two career starts and who is open to plenty of improvement.
He should go well with Moore in the saddle.
Moore also teams up with Norton trainer Tim Pitt aboard Tropical Bachelor in the totepool Selling Stakes.
Overdue a win after finishing second on his last two starts, Tropical Bachelor can find opportunity knocking this time.
In the featured £12,000 Directors Cup Handicap over six furlongs, it could be worth taking a chance on Eton Rifles to oblige under Freddie Tylicki.
The five-year-old developed into a decent performer last season with the promise of even more to come.
His trainer Howard Johnson has his horses in good form and Eton Rifles is sportingly napped to make a winning reappearance.
The most interesting runner in the SIS Picture Services Maiden Stakes is Red Fantasy, who has run in Group races on her previous two outings this season.
Trained by Barry Hills, Red Fantasy finished last of eight to Aviate in the Musidora Stakes at York last month, but she had previously finished second in the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket.
She should be good enough to open her winning account in maiden company here.
Michael Hills, the trainer’s son, who will be aboard Ted Spread in the Derby on Saturday, is in the saddle.
At Nottingham’s afternoon meeting, Dream Spinner makes appeal in the totesuper7 Handicap.
Runner-up in his last two starts, here and at Windsor, Dream Spinner, trained by John Dunlop, can make it third time lucky under Jimmy Fortune.
The useful Cityscape (4.50) and the consistent Sharp Sovereign (5.55) are two others to note.
Racing selections
Ripon
6.40 Sea Flower, 7.10 Tropical Bachelor, 7.40 Timeless Stride, 8.10 Eton Rifles (NAP), 8.40 Red Fantasy, 9.10 King In Waiting.
Nottingham
2.10 Braille, 2.40 Cornus, 3.10 Admirable Duchess, 3.45 Forjatt, 4.15 Dream Spinner, 4.50 Cityscape, 5.25 Forest Crown, 5.55 Sharp Sovereign.
Tomorrow’s other meetings:
Fontwell and Kempton.
Today’s meetings:
Ffos Las, Leicester, Redcar and Yarmouth.
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