A COMBINATION of good weather and plenty of local action has made for a busy spell for flat fans, and they would have witnessed some quality action at Ripon last Sunday.

One of the races that produced a cracking finish was the sprint handicap, it also produced a big-priced winner as Captain Royale came home in front at 22-1.

Ridden by Dale Swift, the winner was trained by Tracey Waggott, who was on hand, saying: “He did a good piece of work the other day when I rode him and he went exceptionally well.”

Down at Stradford, on Sunday, there was a jumping fixture and John Weymes made the long journey from his Middleham base worth while as Elizabeth Coffee took the selling hurdle.

The delighted winning handler said: “Our original plan was to go to Cartmel with her but we came here when this looked winnable on paper.”