HOT PEPPER GRABS RIPON PRIZE

Pepper Lane's love affair with Ripon continued as she notched up her third course and distance win of the season in the William Hill Great St Wilfrid Handicap.

David O'Meara's filly won at the May meeting off a lowly mark off 74, but defied a rating 21lb higher in Ripon's richest ever race.

Sent off at 11-1 under Danny Tudhope, deputising for the suspended Silvestre de Sousa, the four-year-old joined the leaders on the near side at halfway before scooting clear to win impressively by a length and a half.

The consistent Our Jonathan ran on for second, with Mayson running a cracker in third on his first outing of the season. Parisian Pyramid did best of those drawn low in fourth.

O'Meara said: "Her owner, Lynne Lumley, is in hospital so it's great to win. We started thinking of this race when she won here a fortnight ago. With the draw we were encouraged to see the first race here, which showed there was no bias.

"Danny gets on great with her and Silvestre won on her the last day. We've got two great jockeys and hopefully Silvestre can win the title.

"She'll be entered in the Ayr Gold Cup, she has to be, but we might also look for a little Listed race for her."

Tudhope added: "She's a good little filly and Dave has done a great job with her, that's four she's won this year now. You just have to sit on her as long as you dare. She's not very big but is all heart."

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