Zanetto can continue his winning form after drought

ZANETTO ended a near four-year losing spell last time out and can make the most of his renewed confidence in the Directors Cup Handicap at Ripon.

Before his Thirsk verdict, the seven-year-old had last got his head in front when winning a Listed heat at Newbury back in May 2013 when he was trained by Andrew Balding.

To be fair to the Medicean gelding, he was then pretty highly tried, including two runs at the highest level in which he was thoroughly outclassed, and a string of competitive handicap events.

Those handicaps proved more his level but while he placed on a couple of occasions, he did not win and he was shipped out of Balding’s yard for 50,000 guineas in October 2015.

He hardly set the world alight in six starts for new handler John Quinn last year, but returning from a five-month break at Thirsk, Zanetto made full use of his lowest mark since 2012 to run out a length winner.

He has been hiked back up to a mark of 89 now, but that remains some 6lb below his starting point last season and it will be disappointing if he cannot put up a bold show again.

Two runs in as many days at the start of the month clearly did not suit Arab Moon but he can get back on the right track in the 32Red.com Handicap at Kempton.

Winner of a modest affair at the Sunbury venue in April, William Knight sent the three-year-old to Lingfield on May 5 and he shrugged off a 6lb rise to score comfortably without his rider even needing to pick up the whip.