After a frustrating midweek one from two in my racing double, I’m aiming to return to the winner’s enclosure with KANSAS, who should be able to continue his upward trajectory. The Aidan O’Brien-trained youngster has the beating of main danger Jack The Bachelor from their Tipperary run last month. Despite subsequently finishing 2nd to the same horse at Cork, we can reverse the form, with a 11lb weight difference here (the jockey on Jack The Bachelor cannot claim his usual 3lb here).

I’m always searching for horses who appear to be well ahead of their handicap marks. Step forward ABSOLUTE STAR. The unexposed Dark Angel filly certainly built on a modest handicap debut at Kempton, when scoring with something to spare at Doncaster, over a mile. A 5lb rise for that win could prove lenient, and she is bred to be better than a horse rated in the 70s – out of a Listed winner, who stayed this 1m2f distance.

With high draws often dominating sprint handicaps at Ripon, I’m giving KINGS MERCHANT an each-way chance in this competitive event. Trainer Philip Kerby arrives in fair form, and his runner finished 2nd on the sole course start. The four-year-old Bated Breath gelding has also dropped to a winning handicap mark (1lb lower than when last successful). He has shown more than his form figures suggest this season – especially when midfield at York last month. He will need a strong pace to aim at here, but at a likely double-figure price, he is worth supporting to have the gaps appear at the right time.

I just cannot get away from the form of CLASSIC’s last start, when he finished runner-up at Ascot. That 2nd-placed finish came behind Two Tribes, in the fiercely competitive International Handicap. The latter has subsequently won the high-profile Stewards’ Cup Handicap at Goodwood. A rise of 4lb appears lenient – especially if the Richard Hannon-trained Dubawi gelding replicates that excellent Ascot run.

FIRST FOLIO has caught my eye, in the feature event at Ripon, the Great St Wilfrid Handicap over 6f. The grey arrives a pound higher than when last successful but is well treated on old form – he scored from a 10lb higher mark in his pomp. Drawn to race nearside, which I feel will be the best place to attack, should prove to be an advantage. I think First Folio is capable of reaching the placings, under a rider who finished 2nd on him on his penultimate outing.

In what I believe is a winnable Group TWO prize – FAIR ANGELLICA strikes me as overpriced at double-figure odds. The Listed winner does have ground to make up with plenty in here, on official figures, but she performed with credit in a pair of Group Three races this campaign. Firstly, keeping on strongly over an inadequate six furlongs at this track, prior to running far better than her 8th suggests at Goodwood – having missed the break by many lengths. She could cause an upset.