Escape Plan trotted up in the BBC Radio York EBF Novice Stakes at Ripon yesterday to continue the purple patch enjoyed by owner John Fretwell and trainer Eoghan O'Neill.

The pair combined with Always Hopeful to win last Friday's Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and Escape Plan's victory improved their impressive juvenile strike rate, which is now better than 30 per cent.

Graham Gibbons, who also rode Always Hopeful, was always oozing confidence on the 6-4 favourite.

After making virtually all the running, the son of Key Of Luck came readily clear to beat Asaawir by three lengths.

Escape Plan was narrowly beaten in a Listed event in Germany last time and he could again be chasing a big prize this month.

''He's going to run in the Tattersalls Breeders Stakes at the Curragh on August 20,'' revealed O'Neill. ''He ran very well in Germany. He should have won, but that's the way it goes.

''He's a grand horse who is progressing and will be up to Group-race standard in due course. The long-term target will be the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury.''

Escape Plan was O'Neill's 21st two-year-old winner of the season and when asked where the colt stood in his juvenile pecking order, the Newark-based trainer replied: ''He's in the top ten, but I've got a few better than him.''

Inter Vision registered his third course win in the Armstrong Memorial Handicap to leave his owner-trainer Allan Dickman dreaming of some big-race glory.

The field split into two groups with Artie taking the stands side runners along at a good clip as Inter Vision was settled just off the pace by Marc Halford.

The latter was switched off the stand rail to throw down a strong challenge at the furlong pole and after a brief tussle got the better of Artie, with Hidden Dragon keeping on for third a head away.

Dickman said: ''The lad gave him a good ride. I told him to take him back because there was a lot of pace on our side, so we just followed it.

''He loves this place and he'll go for the Great St Wilfrid back here if the sun bakes the ground. He loves firm ground, he's a stone better horse on firm ground.

''He was rated 84 today and I know it's a dream, but he'll run in the Ayr Gold Cup and he'll probably get in now because they'll put him up for this.''

Red Racketeer made all the running under Eddie Ahern to take the Weatherbys Finance Handicap for Newmarket trainer Ed Dunlop.

And in the final race, apprentice Paul Mulrennan gave 10-1 chance Ego Trip a good ride to take the Children's Day Handicap by a length from Real Cool Cat.

l Newmarket officials are hoping a proposed £10m redevelopment of the July course will be ready in time for the 2007 summer season.

The work will be phased over 18 months and will focus on the area behind the existing stands, which themselves will be largely untouched other than for roofing work.

The focal points of the redevelopment will be two brand new entrance buildings on the new perimeter boundary and two new two-storey pavilions inside linked by an aerial walkway.

A planning application was lodged with East Cambridgeshire district council on July 18 and a decision is expected in 12 weeks.