Newmarket and Ripon

The racing at Newmarket and Ripon this afternoon cannot match the quality on offer at Newbury, but Newmarket´s listed race over 1 1/2 miles for fillies and mares at 15.35 has attracted some interesting runners, notably the 3yo´s Dar Re Mi (John Gosden/ Richard Mullen), Arthur´s Girl (Geoff Wragg/ Steve Drowne) and Icon Project (Brian Meehan/ Alan Munro); the last two finished 2nd and 4th respectively in the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot, but Icon Project had a bad run there and could reverse the placings now, while Dar Re Mi was regarded as a classic hope earlier in the season. Best of the older brigade should be Godolphin´s Folk Dance (Kerrin McEvoy), the highest-rated runner, whose form on very soft ground last time at Haysock can be ignored, and Ronaldshay (Richard hannon/ Jimmy Fortune), who has won her last 2 races. At Ripon, the best race is the class 2 handicap for 3yo´s over 1 1/2 miles at 17.00, and althoiugh there are only 6 runners, this is a very open affair. Top weight, the German-bred Laterly (Tom Tate/ Micky Fenton) from the family of Lomitas, looks a highly promising young stayer, but so does Detonator (Mark Johnston/ Joe Fanning), while they will both find it difficult to concede weight to Luca Cumani´s Celt (Pat Cosgrave), who is still a maiden but ran very well last time out.