Ripon Tips: Storm brewing at Garden course

There's lots of racing to enjoy on Thursday alongside Royal Ascot, with a further five meetings scheduled. Among those is an afternoon affair at Ripon, which runs from 13:35-17:10.

My Ripon tips features a trio of runners, including one who looks ready for a step up in trip following some promising recent efforts.

14:05 – An Realta Carraig @ 11/2

The Adrian Keatley-trained AN REALTA CARRAIG could be the answer to this six-furlong novice contest.

The Bungle Inthejungle colt is one of a handful of once-raced contenders looking to build on their initial showings. Richard Fahey's Lovely Spirit and Charlie Fellowes' Stapleford Park are others, but An Realta Carraig was an eye-catcher at Wetherby (5½f, good) earlier this month.

Paul Mulrennan was in the saddle and had his mount anchored in rear throughout before they moved past rivals in the final stages to finish fourth.

Mulrennan certainly didn't throw the kitchen sink at his colt and that initial experience should stand him in good stead. He's got extra yardage to help as well now, while Oisin McSweeney takes off what could be a very handy 3lb in the plate for what is also a slight ease in grade.

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14:40 – Opal Storm e/w @ 14/1

Hat-trick-seeking mare Run This Way may prove popular again for the Paul Midgley team after wins at Redcar and over C&D in May – defying a 5lb penalty within the space of 48 hours for the latter success – but she's rated a full 7lb higher again now and might be worth taking on despite the fact her old form suggests this mark is within her scope.

A solid alternative could be OPAL STORM for trainer Brian Rothwell. The Hot Streak filly was a 5f scorer in a Carlisle handicap last September for her previous yard, causing quite the shock at odds of 66/1.

She wasn't far off repeating the dose at Beverley (5f, good to firm) on seasonal/stable bow in May at 50/1, finishing a close-up fourth and has twice since run well over the same C&D and at Thirsk.

Her three runs this term have left the impression she's ready for a first try at 6f in a handicap and the four-year-old races from an unchanged mark here. She's an each-way alternative to the likely market leader.

15:20 – Up The Jazz @ 11/4

The Kirby Thomas Grand Finale Classic Handicap features a field of seven, with Ey Up Its The Boss and Garden Oasis likely contenders, but it could instead be a breakout moment for UP THE JAZZ.

The Buratino gelding started off sprinting at two last season and showed ability before winning over 7f at Carlisle in August.

He has run well in two of three starts this season, finishing third over a mile here in April and then second at Hamilton over 1m1f (good) this month, with a drop to 7f at York in between times not really suiting.

He came clear to finish second behind all-the-way winner Good Morning Alex at Hamilton last time and really motored on the stiff finish there, suggesting he's more than ready for this extra distance. He is only 2lb higher and has claims for trainer Richard Fahey, the leading handler at Ripon so far this season with a 25% strike rate (4-16).

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