ATTEMPTING to unravel the vagaries of previous form can be frustrating to say the least, but one thing we do know for sure is that jockey tactics play an enormously important role in outcome of horse races.

Ripon's undulating round course has for instance long favoured front-runners in middle-distance contests, a ploy which will hopefully not have escaped the attention of Richard Hills, due to partner Ayun (2.15) in the Tommy Shedden Challenge Trophy.

Ayun made every yard of the running under a canny ride from John Egan to collect over a similar ten-furlong trip at Haydock last time and provided Hills takes a leaf out of Egan's book and dominates his rivals the same result should not be too hard to replicate.

Tim Easterby, whose sprinters have been in cracking fettle all season, launches a two-pronged attack via Artie and On The Brink for the most valuable race on the card, the £17,000 Armstrong Memorial Showcase Handicap.

The pair possess a similar profile in the sense that both ran well on their respective penultimate outings, prior to running deplorably last time out. It's hard to split them but on overall level of ability Artie (3.15) just gets the nod, especially as connections have taken the trouble to book Kieren Fallon to do the steering.

Regular readers of this column will be fully aware of my admiration for the late-lamented sire Darshaan, responsible for so many top-class racehorses over the past two decades.

The remainder of his young stock are gradually working their way through the ranks, one of whom includes the Glamorous Girl (4,15) in the Black Sheep Brewery Maiden Stakes.

Marcus Tregoning's filly made a most promising debut over one mile at Sandown in July, producing a storming late surge to grab second spot having been in the rear division for much of the race.

With a pedigree stacked sky high with stamina, Tregoning has wasted no time at all in stepping Glamorous Girl up another couple of furlongs and over the slightly longer trip should shed her maiden tag at only the second time of asking.

Many of the jockeys will be gunning up from Ripon to Carlisle's evening meeting, a journey that should not be wasted as far as Kieren Fallon is concerned aboard Hollow Jo (8.15) in the Lloyd Mini Adventure.

Hollow Jo has set up a realistic hat-trick bid with victories at Thirsk and Musselburgh, both of which with were achieved in workmanlike fashion.

Richard Guest sends a couple of horses, Nephite (4.00) and Xaipete (4.30), on the massive trek from his base just west of Durham to Newton Abbot.

Guest's near-veteran duo have both been lumbered with top-weight by virtue of their admirable level of consistency.

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