RACEGOERS at Ripon this afternoon are unlikely to be leaving before the seventh and final race on the card. The Betfair Novice Flat Amateur Riders' Handicap presents former top cycling star Victoria Pendleton, the dual gold medallist at the Olympics, with her first ride under rules.

Pendleton, who is in strict training to try and ride at Cheltenham next March, has had one mount so far, in a charity race at Newbury, in which she finished unplaced.

She has put a lot of effort into transforming herself into something resembling a jockey and regularly rides out for Lawney Hill, trainer of Royal Etiquette, who will have Pendleton on board in today's 11 furlong contest.

The first thing Pendleton will need to do is to try and overcome her wide draw in stall 11, otherwise she could be losing ground for much of the race.

Royal Etiquette, who has won a couple of Flat races on turf and who finished fourth at Windsor last time, is not without a chance. He could well provide Pendleton with a memorable moment and she will certainly not be lacking for support from Ripon spectators, who will be willing her to win.

The vote, however, goes to Cabuchon, who is drawn in stall four and who comes here after a third-placed effort at Leicester.

The £30,000 Irish Champions Weekend EBF Ripon Champion Two Yrs Old Trophy 2015 is the most valuable race on the card and has attracted a useful field.

Still On Top has something to find on figures, but Tim Easterby's fast-improving youngster is not to be underestimated. A winner on his debut at Pontefract, Still On Top stepped up on that performance and belied his 25-1 odds when beaten less than a length into third by the highly-rated Tasleet in the valuable sales race at York's Ebor Festival. A reproduction of that performance will give him leading claims here.

The £20,000 Ripon Rowels Handicap offers Wilde Inspiration a chance to return to winning form.

Julie Camacho's charge, the mount of Joe Doyle, took a step forward to finish fourth to Polar Forest here a couple of weeks ago. A little more may be required this time, but Wilde Inspiration was a Haydock winner in April and may be capable of returning to that sort of form now.

Also worthy of attention are the consistent Sandgate (2-35) and the speedy Lydiate Lady (3-10).

At Newcastle, Dark Devil is napped to secure the opening honours in the first division of the vertem.co.uk/EBF Maiden Stakes.

The Richard Fahey-trained juvenile shaped well on his debut at Chester to finish second four weeks ago. That outing should have taught him plenty and he looks sure to be a tough nut to crack under Tony Hamilton.

Frankie Dettori pays a surprise visit to Newcastle for this Bank Holiday meeting to ride Shahbar in the vertemAM Twitter Blaydon Race Nursery Handicap.

Owned by Dettori's employers, Al Shaqab Racing and trained by Marco Botti, Shahbar won at Sandown last time after a decent effort at Leicester. Further improvement looks likely and punters look sure to pick up on Dettori travelling north to take the mount.

Wor Lass has been in unstoppable form lately and has run up a five-timer for Iain Jardine. Anna Hesketh, who has ridden her to four of those wins, takes the mount again in the Vertem Management Handicap, but marginal preference is for Exclusive Contract, trained by Ollie Pears.

A Thirsk winner in mid-summer, Exclusive Contract subsequently finished fourth to Wor Lass here. But she now meets her conqueror on a stone better terms. It promises to be enough to turn the tables for Exclusive Contract, who is returning after a short break.

Also worth noting are impressive Thirsk winner Edge Of Love (3-00) and Second Cut (4-40), a winner here earlier in the month and now stepping back from seven to six furlongs.

SELECTIONS

Ripon

2.00 Bahamian Sunshine

2.35 Sandgate

3.10 Lydiate Lady

3.45 Still On Top

4.20 Wilde Inspiration

4.55 Don Keyhoe Tay

5.30 Cabuchon

Newcastle

12.45 Dark Devil (NAP)

1.15 St Andrews

1.50 Orient Sky

2.25 Shahbar

3.00 Edge Of Love

3.35 Exclusive Contract

4.10 Spirit Of The Sea

4.40 Second Cut