TRAINER David Barron was thrilled to see veteran Suits Me lead his younger rivals a merry dance in the Wilmot- Smith Memorial Handicap at Ripon.

Without a victory since the summer of 2011 and making his first start of the new campaign, Suits Me was the most senior participant of ten runners and was unsurprisingly a relatively unconsidered 16-1 shot.

As has been the case for much of his career, the tenyear- old was soon bowling along at the head of affairs and it was quickly evident he was thoroughly enjoying his day out in the hands of Phillip Makin.

The challengers were queuing up a couple of furlongs down, but Suits Me picked up once asked the question and came home two and threequarter lengths clear of Lord Aeryn.

Barron said: ‘‘It’s absolutely tremendous when an old boy like him comes good. He never surprises me. He’s getting a bit of age on him now but he’s a good horse.’’ Asked where his charge could run next, the trainer said: ‘‘I wouldn’t have a notion.

The owner was talking about retiring him – we were going to give him one or two goes and that would be it – but he’s still got an engine.’’ The North Yorkshire handler doubled up when Robert Winston partnered 5-2 shot Sublimation to victory in the SIS Live Maiden.

Positive tactics paid dividends for Zaitsev, who was a surprise 25-1 winner of the Weatherbys Bank Handicap under Joe Fanning.

While the three-and-a-quarter- length success was a shock to most punters, trainer Ollie Pears was anticipating a bold show from the game front-runner.

He told At The Races: ‘‘He’s been a slow-maturing horse who has found himself in here off a low weight.

‘‘I really fancied him last time at Thirsk, but he probably blew up that day on ground that was very soft.

‘‘I wasn’t surprised at all today. I told the owners he’d be in the first three.’’ Fanning went on to complete a brace aboard Valantino Oyster (9-2) in the Ladies Day 20th June Book Now Handicap.