RICHARD HANNON'S brisk start to the season shows no signs of stopping at Ripon this afternoon where he seeks to improve an already excellent two-year-old strike-rate with Top Spec (2.00).

While other trainers have been keeping their youngsters wrapped up in cotton wool at home, Hannon has sent out three first-time-out juvenile winners so far this term.

And if encouraging gallop reports are to be believed, the highly-regarded Top Spec is expected to continue the good work in the EBF Spa Welter Maiden Stakes.

The opposition doesn't appear to be any great shakes and the master of East Everleigh stables certainly would not be bothering to make the long trip up from Wiltshire with his colt unless he thought Top Spec was worthy of making the arduous journey.

Reigning champion jockey Kieren Fallon's presence is a major bonus for race-goers and I don't believe he will let his supporters down either courtesy of a couple of seriously-fancied rides.

Jim Goldie likes to use Fallon whenever possible and the fact he's managed to secure the champs' services for Kid'z'play (4.10) in the mile-and-a-half Allinson's 40 Handicap speaks volumes for their prospects.

Kid'z'play tends to be a rather headstrong type so Kieren's strength-in-the-saddle will be required to play a vital early role in getting the gelding to settle.

Goldie's raider is probably best ridden using "waiting" tactics from the front, a ploy Fallon has pulled off successfully many times in the past, ably aided and abetted by his superb draw hard up against the favoured inside rail.

The feature race on the card, the 20-runner £15,000 Nick Wilmot-Smith Memorial Handicap over six furlongs, is nothing less than bookies' benefit.

Brigadore (3.35) got a favourable mention by Middleham handler John Weymes in Racing North and he might be worth an each-way investment.

Placed in Listed company as a youngster, injury restricted the selection to just a couple of appearances during 2002.

Apparently pleasing his trainer in recent workouts on Middleham Moor, Brigadore should be back on song soon, even if he isn't absolutely cherry-ripe for today's race.

The Grantley Maiden Stakes looks an above average standard contest for the venue and for the time of year, therefore sorting out the eventual winner will not be easy.

As ever in these types of contests, where many of the three-year-olds are unknown quantities, watching the betting for early clues is essential.

Geoff Wragg snapped up a similar affair at Leicester last week and his entry, Always Esteemed, is bound to raise more than a few eyebrows.

Mark Johnston's newcomer Fantastic Love (4.45) can also be regarded as a leading contender having sparkled on several occasions against his contemporaries.

Being so close to the Aintree Festival Ascot stage an unusually strong mid-week jumping fixture with a £40,000 centrepiece, the sportingoptions.co.uk Betting Exchange Long Distance Hurdle.

Despite being quite hard to predict, track and trip specialist Deano's Beeno is bound to be in the thick of the action.

Deano's Beeno jockey Tony McCoy is having his first ride back after a two-week break following a shoulder injury and considering Martin Pipe's game stayer rarely runs a bad race at the Berkshire track the partnership appears to be the safest option in a very trappy contest

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