JASON HART, last year's champion apprentice, has made a flying start to the current campaign with half-a-dozen winners already under his belt and he can continue his successful spree at Ripon's opening meeting today.

Hart, pictured, teams up with Barkston Ash in the PPR Foundation Handicap and Eric Alston's sprinter is fancied to show his rivals the way home.The six-year-old hails from a stable in good form and he also has the benefit of a recent outing.

At Doncaster at the end of last month, Barkston Ash finished a good third to Flyman from a poor draw. He should be all the better for that race and is expected to take plenty of beating over a course and distance where he has scored in the past.

The £12,000 RiponBet Silver Bowl Handicap is the feature race on the card and Ardmay, trained by Kevin Ryan, may be the one to be on.

The five-year-old tends to pay his way each season and he ran well on his re-appearance to suggest that this term will be no exception. He is also a previous course winner.

Ardmay will be ridden by Shane Gray, who has joined Ryan's Hambleton stable after showing a fair bit of promise in his native Ireland.

Also worth noting are Red Refraction (3.05), a rare runner here for champion trainer Richard Hannon, and Snow Squall (4.15), who showed admirable consistency and no lack of talent last season.

The second day of Newmarket's spring meeting is highlighted by the Novae Bloodstock Insurance Craven Stakes, which hosts the eagerly awaited re-appearance of Toormoore, three-from-three last season, and a Group 1 winner of the National Stakes at the Curragh on his final start.

The colt, trained by Richard Hannon, promises to be all the rage in this traditional stepping stone to the 2,000 Guineas and bookmakers have installed him the odds-on favourite to get the job done under Ryan Moore.

It will be no cakewalk with the likes of Anjaal, Be Ready and Kevin Ryan'sThe Grey Gatsby in the line-up, but Toormore should take plenty of beating.

Dinkum Diamond gets the vote in the Connaught Access Flooring Abernant Stakes.

Henry Candy's likeable sprint started the season in style when winning the Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster's opening meeting and although he is likely to find this tougher, he should not be dismissed lightly.

In the £200,000 Tattersalls Millions 3-Y-O Trophy, many punters will want to be with Aidan O'Brien's Johann Strauss, who has had the benefit of a preparatory run.

However, Godolphin's Sudden Wonder may upset the Ballydoyle applecart by taking the valuable spoils.

This talented colt was defeated on his first two starts last season, but he came good in sensational style on this course in the autumn when winning by eight lengths on his final outing. There promises to be much more to come from him.

John Gosden can do little wrong at present and the Newmarket trainer has several good chances on his home track today, most notably Fallen In Line (2.20), Eastern Belle (5.10) and Cloudscape (5.40).
 

Selections

Ripon today

1.55 Reassert, 2.30 Barkston Ash (NAP), 3.05 Red Refraction, 3.40 Ardmay, 4.15 Snow Squall, 4.50 Waseem Faris, 5.25 Yenhaab.

Newmarket today

1.45 Lacing, 2.20 Fallen In Line, 2.55 Sudden Wonder, 3.30 Dinkum Diamond, 4.05 Toormore, 4.40 Just The Judge, 5.10 Eastern Belle, 5.40 Cloudscape.

Today's other meeting

Cheltenham.

Tomorrow's meetings

Lingfield and Musselburgh.