While all eyes tomorrow will be on Denman and Big Buck’s, who promise to play starring roles on the first day of Aintree’s Grand National meeting, Ripon kicks off its 2011 Flat season with a bumper eight-race programme, an appearance by Frankie Dettori, and the likelihood of lightning striking in the same place twice for a North Yorkshire horse.

Kings Gambit won the Ripon Silver Bowl 12 months ago and the seven-year-old is back again to bid for a repeat in one of the feature races on the card.

Trained at Hazlewood near Tadcaster by Tom Tate, Kings Gambit won this ten furlong race last term in the hands of Micky Fenton and went on to prove himself an ultra-tough and admirably competitive performer, stacking up several creditable placed efforts, which included a short-head defeat in York’s John Smith’s Cup.

Jamie Spencer takes the mount on Kings Gambit and a winning reappearance is anticipated.

Tim Easterby has a high opinion of Mariachi Man, who makes his comeback in the Ripon ‘Cock O’ North’ Handicap with David Allan in the saddle.

A course winner last season, Mariachi Man also won at Newmarket and was narrowly beaten at Doncaster in nursery company on his final outing. He looks a useful prospect for the current campaign.

Easterby could be the man to follow on this card. The Great Habton trainer, who sent out Mirrored to win at Doncaster last weekend, won the Nags Head Pickhill Maiden Stakes on this card last year with Cocktail Charlie, and he introduces Queens Revenge this time around. A daughter of Multiplex, she is not to be underestimated.

Likewise Medici Time is fancied to go well for Easterby in the second leg of the SIS Live Racing Handicap over six furlongs.

Dettori pays his first visit to Yorkshire this season and can make his presence felt aboard the Mark Johnston-trained Crown Counsel in the Totepool Maiden Stakes. The colt is overdue a winning turn after finishing runner-up in his three races so far.

Aintree gets off to a tremendous start with a brace of Grade 1 races on the opening day.

Big Buck’s has not tasted defeat in 11 starts, dating back to January 1, 2009, and all but one of those wins have been gained at either Grade 1 or Grade 2 level. His recent success in the World Hurdle at Cheltenham, which he was winning for a third successive time, proved him to be as good as ever. He can again account for Grands Crus in the BGC Partners Liverpool Hurdle.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Big Buck’s, also saddles Denman in the Totesport Bowl Chase and last month’s Gold Cup runner-up will be a popular choice to go one better.

Denman’s task has been made easier by the defection of Gold Cup winner Long Run, who will not run again this season.


Racing selections

Ripon

2.10 Queens Revenge, 2.45 Cape Vale, 3.20 Kings Gambit, 3.55 Mariachi Man, 4.30 Crown Counsel, 5.00 Sandwith, 5.30 Medici Time.

Aintree (selected races)

2.00 Big Buck’s, 2.30 Grandouet, 3.05 Denman.

Tomorrow’s other meetings:

Hereford and Ripon.

Today’s meetings:

Beverley, Kempton, Lingfield and Nottingham.