An unashamed selection at Ripon

UNASHAMED can do his canny connections proud again in division one of the Affordable Ownership With Titanium Racing Handicap at Ripon.

Owner-trainer Grant Tuer and jockey Sam James have become names to note of late and continue to operate at an eyecatching strike-rate.

Unashamed is a case in point, having shown improved form to strike at the fourth attempt, on handicap debut after a break at Wolverhampton last month.

Many of Tuer and James’ successes this spring have come at all-weather tracks, but they are not to be discounted on turf either - and Unashamed can be expected to make a seamless switch.

The three-year-old’s victory in a lowly grade was no surprise, as the well-supported favourite, and he got the job done with the minimum of fuss.

Sticking to the same trip here, he slots in off his new all-weather rating and has obvious prospects of further progress at this level.

Tuer and James may well be in business again with Restless Endeavour, in the British EBF Premier Fillies’ Handicap.

The four-year-old went very close on her return to turf, under 7lb claimer Oisin McSweeney, when beaten just a head into second over this same six-furlong trip at Thirsk.

That was at the start of the month on ground much quicker than is forecast this weekend, but Restless Endeavour won in the soft at Catterick last summer.

James was on board then and returns as she bids for a third win in her last four starts, having prevailed at Newcastle and then Lingfield in the space of 10 days back in March.