Monday blues for Charlton

Cambridgeshire winner Blue Monday was touched off by a short head on his seasonal bow in the Ripon Silver Bowl Conditions Stakes at the North Yorkshire track.

Having his first run since his famous Newmarket success last October, Roger Charlton’s four-year-old was sent off the 4-9 favourite to continue his winning sequence.

On leaving the stalls, Steve Drowne settled his mount just off the pace in third and waited until the final three furlongs before asking for an effort.

Blue Monday cruised to the front two furlongs out and looked assured of victory but 4-1 chance Profit’s Reality came with a determined challenge and got his head in front on the line.

Earlier, Steve Carson was handed a one-day ban (May 1) for failing to keep to his draw position on the unplaced Pauvic in the Copt Hewick Handicap.