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Sky Sports Racing: Dark Cloud Rising vs Lord Roxby at Ripon

Sky Sports Champions League •
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We have a full day of action on Monday with Flat action from Ripon and Windsor, live on Sky Sports Racing.

Dark Cloud Rising and Lord Roxby lock horns in the Wilmot-Smith Memorial Handicap at Ripon. Dark Cloud Rising is not the most consistent, and he disappointed last time out at Pontefract, but he returns to a track where he got his head in front last month and, if he can perform to a similar level, he should be tough to beat. Lord Roxby bounced back to form when a good second at Ayr after a couple of mediocre efforts following a big-field handicap win at York. He should remain competitive and continue his progression.

Nine-year-old Commanche Falls has bits of nice form at Ripon, including a win, yet he is on a losing run which stretches back to September 2023 and has not shown many signs of a revival. Rousing Encore has been operating at a higher level recently, and a return to a lower grade and a smaller field could spark a much better performance.

Night Shining, a 475,000gns-yearling, bids to break her maiden in the Wasdell Group EBF Maiden Stakes at Windsor. The daughter of Night Of Thunder is unlikely to live up to her pedigree and hefty price tag, but she does marginally set the standard here down in trip. Pilgrim's Progress opposes as the chief threat having shown progress when second at Lingfield on debut. She was slightly disappointing last time out, but if she can take a step forward from the promising second, she will prove a worthy contender. Ardnamurchan brings a more unexposed profile having finished a solid fourth on debut when tiring late. She showed plenty of speed, therefore the drop back to the minimum trip may see her to greater effect.