The famous colours of Her Majesty the Queen, which will be carried by red-hot favourite Carlton House in Saturday’s Epsom Derby, are set to be given an airing at Ripon tomorrow evening when Plimsoll Line bids to fulfil the promise of a recent fourth-place effort at Haydock.

Unlike Carlton House, winner of this month’s Dante Stakes at York, who is trained by Sir Michael Stoute, Plimsoll Line is a resident of Michael Bell’s Newmarket stable.

Bred, as well as owned by the Queen, he was unraced last season as a juvenile, but he has shown definite signs of ability in two outings this term, most notably at Haydock a couple of weeks ago when he stayed on strongly in maiden company to fill the frame after coming from an unpromising position early in the home straight.

Plimsoll Line is plainly a good deal inferior to Carlton House, who will be bidding to write his name into the history books by becoming the first Derby winner owned by the Queen. But he should be up to figuring in the finish of the SIS Picture Services Maiden Stakes with Jamie Spencer in the saddle.

Elusive Prince has strong claims in the Ripon Farm Services Handicap over six furlongs.

Trained near Thirsk by David Barron, the three-year-old produced an impressive display to win a maiden in decisive style over this course and distance a month ago. He looks up to holding his own in handicap company.

The feature race on the card, the Directors Cup Handicap, is a very competitive affair, but Ursula, trained by Elaine Burke at Middleham, looks to have a solid chance, judged on her latest effort at Thirsk.

The five-year-old finished with a flourish to take fourth place behind Mon Brav and left the impression she is now coming to hand. A winner at Ayr last summer, off a similar mark to the one she races off here, Ursula has good each-way claims.

Petella, a runaway course-and-distance winner two starts back, has since been beaten into second at Newcastle. George Moore’s five-year-old is fancied to bounce back in the attheraces.com Is Free Handicap over two miles.

At Nottingham’s afternoon meeting, North Yorkshire trainers have a host of good chances.

Ruth Carr saddles recent winner Beckermet (1.40), while Lawrence Mullaney runs his Musselburgh winner Mr Mo Jo (2.40).

Watch out for Brian Ellison’s in-form Certral (4.50), bidding to follow up last Friday’s Newcastle success, and also the Tim Easterby-trained Dark Dune (3.45) and Royal Composer (5.25), who is sportingly napped to pop up at a nice price.


Racing selections

Nottingham
1.40 Beckermet, 2.10 Methaaly, 2.40 Mr Mo Jo, 3.10 Justineo, 3.45 Dark Dune, 4.15 Border Patrol, 4.50 Certral, 5.25 Royal Composer (NAP).

Ripon
6.40 Right Result, 7.10 Drop The Hammer, 7.40 Elusive Prince, 8.10 Ursula, 8.40 Plimsoll Line, 9.10 Petella.

Tomorrow’s other meetings: Cartmel, Fontwell and Kempton.

Today’s meetings: Ffos Las, Leicester, Redcar and Yarmouth.