Budelli, an unlucky loser in the William Hill Great St Wilfrid Handicap last year, will be back in a bid to go one better in the £50,000 sprint on August 16, writes RAY GILPIN.
He booked his place with a comfortable success in the Armstrong Memorial Rated Stakes over course and distance at Ripon yesterday.
The Mick Channon-trained gelding was making a quick reappearance after finishing 11th in the Stewards' Cup at Goodwood on Saturday, and he was given a confident ride by Dean Corby.
He had him travelling sweetly and once he asked him to quicken the response was immediate, with Budelli sweeping into the lead inside the final furlong and striding away to beat Artie by two and a half lengths.
Channon was taking his score for the season to 80, and his representative Lesley White said: ''Budelli stumbled at the start in the Great St Wilfrid last year and he was only beaten a short head in the end.
''I don't see any reason why he should not have another go. He is a tough horse who takes his racing and travelling well.''
Apprentice Suzanne France showed that a horrific fall, in which she was lucky to escape serious injury, at Thirsk on Friday had not dented her confidence when bringing Petite Mac with a perfectly-timed run to win the Kathryn Apanowicz Radio Show Selling Handicap.
This was her fifth success, the other four having been gained on Efidium, and her boss Neville Bycroft, who retained Petite Mac without a bid, said: ''Suzanne said she let him down too soon last time but she said she learned from that and she was very cool on him today.''
Sylvester Kirk and jockey J D Smith dropped in by helicopter and they recouped the travelling expenses when Hoh Bleu Dee just got the better of Treasure House, with the odds-on Danesmead only third, in the EBF Children's Day Novice Stakes.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article