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Prince Of Pillo maintained his unbeaten record in fine style in the William Hill Ripon Hornblower Conditions Stakes.
Prince Of Pillo maintained his unbeaten record in fine style in the William Hill Ripon Hornblower Conditions Stakes.
Trained by Keith Dalgleish, the Prince Of Lir colt had won over six furlongs on his debut at Ayr but had no trouble dropping to the minimum trip on his second outing.
Ben Haslam's Wen Moon grabbed the rail in attempting to follow up a course-and-distance victory, but Prince Of Pillo was always travelling the better of the two.
New Definition was the one to throw down the last challenge but Callum Rodriguez did not have to get too serious to win by a length and a quarter as the 5-2 joint-favourite.
"I was really really happy with that, he's taken a massive step forward," said Rodriguez.
"He's got so much speed this horse, and he's done that easily. He was still a bit green in the last furlong as it's a big crowd, but he's won it in a half-speed in the end.
"We started him off over six but we weren't concerned dropping down as he showed so much speed. We thought he'd improve for coming back in trip and he's shown us exactly that today."
Mike Prince, racing manager for owners Middleham Park Racing said: "He has the Listed Champion Two Yrs Old Trophy back at Ripon and the Harry Roseberry Stakes at Ayr at their Western meeting as his options. The former might come a touch too soon, but he'll go to either. He has plenty of speed for both."
Barely a Ripon meeting goes by without Tim Easterby and David Allan being among the winners and this time it was Garden Oasis (7-2) – but only by the narrowest of margins.
Already a three-time course winner, he had not been in good form this season but Allan was keen to adopt the favourable front-running role.
He had to be tough but the seven-year-old repeated his victory of 12 months ago by a nose from Award Dancer.
"It's pretty obvious he thrives at this place, but the most important bit today was to get the lead," said Allan.
"He does well on the front-end and he's dug in well. We've put the blinkers back on him recently and they've worked.
"I don't know what it is about this place but Tim's horses love it."
As if to prove the point Marbuzet (11-2) came with a wet sail in the finale to provide them both with a double.
Roger Fell's Rievaulx Raver (14-1) was a surprise winner of the William Hill Play Responsibly EBF Restricted Novice Stakes.
Rated just 59 heading into the contest, he was another to make all on the round course, this time under Jason Hart.
"He's been gelded and had headgear for the first time and it's worked, but I can't say I was expecting it," said Fell.
Hart, who may be bidding for a quick-fire Group One brace on John Quinn's Highfield Princess in the Nunthorpe at York next week, then doubled up on Phil Kirby's Peripeteia (14-1) in the William Hill Pick Your Places Handicap.
