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Seven Questions ready for Listed assignment at Ripon

3 minute read

A competitive field line up for the Listed Ripon Champion Two Year Old Trophy Stakes at Ripon on Monday including course and distance winner Seven Questions.

Racecourse : Ripon (Great Britain) Picture: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

George Scott's three-time victor Seven Questions was successful over track and trip in early August before recording a Leicester win under a penalty.

"It seemed the obvious next step for him having won nicely there over course and distance," said Scott.

"He's not a horse who shows a huge amount at home, he seems to save it all for the track. He appears in very good form, he's well drawn and his jockey Darragh Keenan knows him particularly well. 

"It's a step up in grade for him, but we're looking forward to seeing how he gets on. He's a tough tough horse and takes his racing well. He's also really versatile ground wise and it seems the obvious spot for him. It will be interesting to see if he is capable of taking it in his stride or not. 

"The Juddmonte horse [Task Force] has a wonderful pedigree and was very impressive first time out and is probably going to be the one to beat."

Out of dual Guineas winner Special Duty, Ralph Beckett's Task Force made an impressive start to his career when a three-and-a-quarter length winner of a Salisbury maiden in late July and could improve for the run. 

Asadna was an easy twelve length victor at the track on debut in May but was unable to follow up in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. The colt was transferred from George Boughey to Alice Haynes and made a solid start for his new yard when third in the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes at Newbury.

"We're going back to a track we know he loves and has course form on," said Haynes.

"It will be good ground, he has a good draw and he's definitely come on from Newbury and goes there in really good order.

"We have been unfortunate that August has been pretty much a washout in terms of the ground, so hopefully we can plan his campaign after this."

Task Force is the current 6/4 favourite for the Listed contest with Seven Questions at 7/2 and Asadna at 9/2.