Intriguing Willie Mullins hurdler switches to the Flat at Ballinrobe and newcomers with top pedigrees in action at Ascot

Ascot: Style to continue Appleby's hot form

The Group 2 winner Nakheel emerged from the 1m2f fillies' maiden (2.55) last season and two newcomers with outstanding pedigrees are among the runners this time around. 

Fresh from a Guineas double last weekend, Charlie Appleby unleashes Spirited Style. The filly is a daughter of Sea The Stars and out of dual Group 1 winner in Wild Illusion.

Her opposition includes Shadwell's El Budoor, a Kingman colt and first runner out of the smart mare Enbihaar.

Spirited Style14:55 Ascot

View Racecard

Jky: Dougie Costello Tnr: Charlie Appleby

Ascot stat: 100 per cent

Vocal Legend's (4.00) boasts a perfect record over 6f and he bids to complete a hat-trick on his first turf start since his debut.

Vocal Legend16:00 Ascot

View Racecard

Jky: Jason Watson Tnr: Charles Hills

Ballinrobe: Legs switches to the Flat

Sussex Champion Hurdle runner-up Daddy Long Legs switches to the Flat for the 1m5f maiden (7.55) after a productive period picking up prize-money over hurdles. 

The Joe and Marie Donnelly-owned six-year-old chased home State Man in the Irish Champion Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival in February and has his first Flat start for Willie Mullins here.

Daddy Long Legs: runs on the Flat for Willie Mullins (right)Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Daddy Long Legs was beaten a short-head in a Saint-Cloud maiden when trained by Nicolas Clement in May 2022 and Mullins has booked champion jockey Colin Keane at a track where he has trained ten winners from 60 Flat runners.

This is Mullins' first runner at this venue in this code since 2022 and his rivals include the Johnny Murtagh-trained Tashir, who runs in the colours of the late Aga Khan. His debut second to Aidan O'Brien's subsequent Group 2 runner-up Monumental reads well.

Daddy Long Legs19:55 Ballinrobe

View Racecard

Jky: Colin Keane Tnr: W P Mullins

Downpatrick: Diva represents owner in form

Owner Matthew Rogers had an enjoyable season last term with Lisnamult Lad winning at Cheltenham in October before finishing second in the Topham. 

Rogers also had Break My Soul run with credit at the Grand National meeting when she finished fourth in the Aintree Hurdle and she made the frame in another Grade 1 when fourth in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle last Friday, finishing a place ahead of Constitution Hill.

Both of those performers are trained by Ian Donoghue and their stablemate Tankardstown Diva reverts to fences in the 2m7½f handicap chase (7.42) for Rogers. The six-year-old has been winless in 11 starts since landing a Down Royal handicap hurdle in April last year.

Keith Donoghue rides his brother's daughter of Jukebox Jury on her fifth chasing start and she has to concede weight to all ten of her rivals.

Tankardstown Diva19:42 Downpatrick

View Racecard

Jky: Keith Donoghue Tnr: Ian Patrick Donoghue

Hereford: Stone back in town for Gypsy ride

Barry Stone enjoyed the perfect possible first ride in Britain when winning the Kim Muir on Daily Present for Paul Nolan in March and the amateur jockey makes a similar journey to partner The Gypsy Davey in the 2m5f handicap chase (6.40).

Stone's only other ride in Britain came the day after his Cheltenham Festival success when finishing third at Fakenham on Linden Lane for The Gypsy Davey's trainer Evan Williams.

Stone's claim means that The Gypsy Davey, who is entered in the Goffs UK Spring horses-in-training sale at Doncaster later this month, is 5lb better off than when winning a three-runner course-and-distance contest last month.

The seven-year-old has made the frame on all 11 of his starts under rules and Do Your Job, who got back to winning ways on his penultimate start at Wetherby and is still two stone below his peak rating, could be the main danger.

The Gypsy Davey18:40 Hereford

View Racecard

Jky: Mr B T Stone (7lb)Tnr: Evan Williams

Hereford stat: in-form trainers

Richard Newland and Jamie Insole boasted a 63 per cent strike-rate at the track last season (five winners from eight runners). The Dream Goes On (6.40) is their first representative at the course this term.

The Dream Goes On18:40 Hereford

View Racecard

Jky: Luke Scott (5lb)Tnr: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Market Rasen: Oliver looking forward to History run

Can't Beat History has been in superb form, winning five of his last six races. The only blip came when he was pulled up at Bangor last June. Two of those victories during that run came at this track and he goes for his fourth course win in the feature 3m handicap chase (3.50).

Lee Edwards has ridden Can't Beat History on all 16 of his starts since joining Henry Oliver from Jonathan Sweeney but Johnny Burke takes over here. Burke's boss Fergal O'Brien runs Ajp Kingdom, but Tom Broughton has ridden that eight-year-old on his last three starts and keeps the partnership going.

Oliver said: "He's been in great nick. He's stepping up in class and 9lb to contend with but he's doing everything the right way. The ground will be fine and he's a course and distance winner so we'll look forward to it."

Ajp Kingdom competes off the same mark as when third at Cheltenham last month while five-time course winner Giovanni Change has been raised 1lb for his latest success at the track. Hidden Heroics is rated 3lb below his last winning mark for trainer Dan Skelton and Tristan Durrell takes a further 3lb off.

Can't Beat History15:50 Market Rasen

View Racecard

Jky: Jonathan Burke Tnr: Henry Oliver

Nottingham: Buick a name to note

William Buick had three winners from his eight rides at Nottingham last season and makes another visit for just two mounts, including a leading Godolphin prospect.

He takes the ride on Masai Moon in the 1m2f novice stakes (7.35), where the Charlie Appleby-trained colt will look to improve after a disappointing return in the Listed Fielden Stakes at Newmarket on his comeback. He looked good when winning at Kempton before that.

Buick dons the royal silks to ride Tempting Fate for Ralph Beckett in the 1m½f novice stakes (6.25).

Masai Moon19:35 Nottingham

View Racecard

Jky: William Buick Tnr: Charlie Appleby

Ripon: fabulous four for Zappata?

There is a four-timer on the cards as Zappata looks to continue his excellent season in the mile handicap (6.20). 

The George Scott-trained three-year-old will be visiting his third Yorkshire track in the space of a fortnight having scored at Wetherby and Redcar for the opening two legs of the treble before handling quick ground well at Bath on Monday.

He will carry 10st 2lb although jockey Liam Wright claims 5lb.

Zappata18:20 Ripon

View Racecard

Jky: Liam Wright (5lb)Tnr: George Scott

Looking for free bets? Racing Post have got the best offers, all in one place. Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more