RIPON racegoers could do a lot worse than pledging their support to Signore Piccolo in the big race of the day.

Underrated trainer David Loughnane has done a fine job with this six-year-old since his transfer from David O’Meara’s yard in May.

Signore Piccolo would now appear to hold major claims of victory in the Armstrong Memorial Handicap over six furlongs.

The gelded son of Piccolo won a nice sprint handicap at Haydock in June and has continued to go well - even in spite of an elevated handicap mark.

He should really have won at Beverley on July 8 but got going a little too late in the piece and missed out by a nose.

Signore Piccolo was then sent to Chester a week and a half ago for a strong class three handicap over five furlongs.

Things went wrong on the Roodee, though, as he was slowly away and was then stopped in his tracks inside the final furlong.

But he stayed on earnestly once his chance had gone and did really well to get to within two and three-quarters of a lengths of Confessional.

A proven operator when there is cut in the ground, the in-form sprinter is clearly not done with yet and will not be knocked off his stride by going over six furlongs.

Paul Mulrennan has won on him before so it is also pleasing to see the partnership resume acquaintances.

Whitecrest would not be winning out of turn at Salisbury.

John Spearing’s nine-year-old is not getting any quicker but she should still have enough about her to go well in a six-furlong handicap at the Wiltshire circuit. The daughter of Ishiguru rattled off a hat-trick earlier in the year and has since held her form reasonably well.

Whitecrest was a good runner-up over this course and distance in July when she got close to within a length and a quarter of Dandy Flame, who has since won at Windsor.

Spearing’s inmate then showed her versatility in soft ground at Lingfield 11 days later when she was only beaten two lengths by Monteamiata.

The handicapper has been quite gentle on Whitecrest since she won three on the spin in May and she returns to Salisbury on the same mark off which she completed a hat-trick.

Hanseatic could be in a different league at Carlisle as the Cumbria circuit stages its yearly all-female jockey raceday.

The eight-year-old son of Galileo found seven furlongs too sharp at Doncaster last time out and will be much happier over this longer trip.

Hanseatic’s trainer Mick Easterby has, interestingly, appointed his granddaughter Joanna Mason for the ride.

Mason is bang in form, too, having secured three winners from her last five rides.

Funky Footsteps gobbled up a lot of late ground at Sandown late last month and an ascent in distance at Windsor could do for her in the nine-furlong handicap.

SELECTIONS

RIPON: 2.15 Clubbable, 2.45 Bourbonisto, 3.15 Save The Bees, 3.45 SIGNORE PICCOLO (NAP), 4.15 Royal Reserve, 4.45 American History, 5.15 Holmeswood.

SALISBURY: 2.00 Ode To Autumn, 2.30 Bullingdon, 3.00 Whitecrest, 3.30 Awfaa, 4.00 Mowhoob, 4.30 Nightswift, 5.00 Nathania, 5.35 Banff.

WINDSOR: 5.10 Arden Pearl, 5.45 Funky Footsteps, 6.15 Calvados Spirit, 6.45 Clear Spring, 7.15 Jafetica, 7.45 St Andrews, 8.15 Zipedeedodah.

DOUBLE: Signore Piccolo and Whitecrest.