RACING Red to take all Ripon rewards

SOCIETY RED can continue his good start to the campaign with victory in the Wilmot-Smith Memorial Handicap at Ripon.

The form of Richard Fahey’s fouryear-old is on an upward curve in 2018 and he now looks ready to make his mark in this grade.

After shaping encouragingly on his seasonal debut on the all-weather at Chelmsford last month, Society Red was second of 15 at Pontefract when sent off favourite and duly went one better over an extended mile at Beverley earlier this month.

He only got on top close home that day, suggesting this nine furlongs will be right up his street.

Society Red has taken on some decent horses in the past, running Group Two winner Defoe to half a length at York last summer, so these opponents should hold no fears.

Benadalid can reap the benefit of an excellent seasonal reappearance to win the VW Van Centre (West Yorkshire) Handicap.

Chris Fairhurst’s charge was only beaten three-quarters of a length in third place behind Moxy Mares after a 227-day break and a gelding operation.

He has only been put up 1lb for that effort three weeks ago and hopefully might have improved more than that in the interim.

Apache Song may have been out of his depth at Cheltenham in April, but James Eustace’s five-year-old bounced back in style at Fakenham and can strike again at Market Rasen.

He has gone up 6lb for what was a facile success and it may not be enough to stop him doubling up in the Racing UK In HD! Handicap Hurdle.

No Ceiling should be all the better for his latest start four weeks ago following a break and looks the one to be on in the Inspire Insurance Services Handicap Chase at Stratford.

Ian Williams’ eight-year-old has only had one run since winning at Doncaster in early December and could be on course for a lucrative summer campaign like in 2017, when he won twice and was placed in all his other four starts.