Supplicant to star for Fahey in Ripon Champion 2-y-o Trophy

Trainer Richard Fahey endured a difficult York Ebor meeting, failing to score despite several placed efforts. He can pick up the winning thread in Bank Holiday Monday’s feature race, the Champion Two-year-old Trophy at Ripon.

Supplicant officially has 7lbs and more in hand of his rivals and that rating is largely based on a fine second at Royal Ascot behind Extortionist. He looked desperately unlucky when fifth at Goodwood on his next start before gaining a confidence-boosting victory here last week.

Mick Channon’s Riverboat Springs would be a threat if returning to the form he showed when a fast finishing second at Epsom’s Derby meeting. The son of Bushranger failed to reproduce that effort at Royal Ascot in the Coventry Stakes.

Richard Hannon’s Legend Rising was also well beaten at Ascot before finishing last of three at Kempton. He was restless in the stalls that day and can make his presence felt if he handles the preliminaries.

Ventura Mist makes a quick reappearance after finishing down the field in the valuable sales race at York whilst Northern Water and Hoku both have a bit to find on official ratings.

Fahey could have double prospects on the card with Flighty Clarets bidding to follow up her last gasp Ayr victory in the 3.00 race. She looked as though the gap had come too late that day but produced a fine burst of speed to snatch the spoils on the line.

Sedenoo and Monakova are both seeking a hat-trick and will provide a stern test for Fahey’s filly. Both won with a little in hand last time out, Sedenoo at Leicester and Monakova landing the odds at Newcastle.

Robert The Painter overcame a wide draw to win here two weeks ago and shoulders top weight in the Ripon Rowels at 4.10. He gamely held off the persistent challenge of No Poppy by half a length and is now 4lbs better off with the runner-up.

Kevin Ryan has his team in flying form and Trail Blaze has been performing well in these tough handicaps. A fine second behind Galician at Ascot, he was then a close third in a big field at Thirsk.