Venture set for sprint double
Cumbrian Venture secured the first leg of a possible sprint double with a gutsy victory at Ripon.
Blinkered for the first time, the two-year-old led from the start in the opening Ripon Horn Blower Conditions Stakes and he fought back well when strongly pressed by Devious Boy in the latter stages to score by half a length.
The 9-1 shot is now likely to bid to emulate former stable-companions Buy Or Sell and Pepperoni, who won this five-furlong race for Tim Easterby in recent years and went on to land the Roses Stakes at York a few days later.
"There is a strong possibility he will go to York," his trainer said. "But then his main aim is the big sales race at Doncaster next month.
"He is completely bone idle and the blinkers made a difference today."
