Sun can shine at Ripon

Sunsprite can continue his climb up the ladder and give Richard Hughes a taste of Listed success as a trainer in the British Stallion Studs EBF Ripon Champion Two Yrs Old Trophy 2018 Stakes at the North Yorkshire track.

The son of Kodiac has shown plenty of determination to land his last two starts by a short head after winning a shade cosier at Bath on his second outing. He is obviously progressive, but just as importantly finds more when tackled for the lead in the closing stages. That is a good virtue for a racehorse and Sunsprite is expected to shine again.

Cote D’azur won for the first time in 14 months when seeing off Red Striker by three-quarters of a length at Nottingham.

The five-year-old, trained by Les Eyre, has been put up 3lb for that victory but there could be more to come now he has got his head in front again.

It looks a tougher task and he is dropping down in trip to a mile for the Ripon Rowels Handicap from ten furlongs, but he has the speed to cope with that.