New intermediate distance a possible solution at Ripon

Ripon managing director James Hutchinson shouldered the blame for today’s two two-year-old races over a mile attracting only three runners each and he suggested introducing a new distance at the track could be a possible solution.

The nursery, for which there were 13 entries, attracted only five runners last year when it was first run in its current form, while the Plus 10 conditions race, for which there were 12 entries, was contested by just four in 2015.

Both races were won by Mark Johnston runners, and Johnston, who was responsible for four entries in both of today’s races, fields strong candidates again. His maiden Laureate is top on Racing Post Ratings in the nursery, while Kempton and Windsor winner Permian is the pick on figures for the conditions race.