York May meeting: day one

Today´s racing at York is the first since the course had to be closed last summer because of flooding and drainage problems. The May meeting here is always one of the best of the year and features the Group Two Duke of York Stakes over 6 furlongs at 16.10 CET and the Musidora Stakes (Group 3 for 3yo fillies)at 15.40. The latter event is an important Oaks trial and three of the 6 runners figure prominently in the betting on the Epsom classic. They are the Queen´s Enticement (Sir Michael Stoute/ Ryan Moore), unbeaten in 2 starts last year, High Heeled (Barry and Michael Hills), who ran in strongly to win at Newbury last time, and Sariska (Michael Belle/ Jamie Spencer), fourth over an inadequate trip in the Fred Darling Stakes. It is difficut to choose between them, but Enticement´s 2008 form has worked out well and she just gets the vote.

There are 16 runners in the Duke of York, including Tax Free (David and Adrian Nicholls) and Equiano (Barry and Michal Hills), who fought out the finish of a similar race at Newmarket last time, and they should be involved again. With the Godolphin runners still struggling, we shall overlook Frankie Dettori´ s mount Hatta Fort, whil Arganil (Kevin Ryan/ Neil Callan) is up in class after winning his last 4 races in good style, all on the all-weather. An interesting outsider is Intrepid Jack (Hughie Morrison/ George Baker), well beaten his last starts but far from disgraced when fourth in last year´s Goldene Peeitsche at Baden-Baden.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Meethaaq - Rose Street - Stone Of Scone
2. Race: Enact - Photographic - Tartan Gunna
3. Race: Sariska - Enticement - High Heeled
4. Race: Equiano - Tax Free - Utmost Respect
5. Race: Serious Impact - Wellington Square - King Fingal
6. Race: Ventura Cove - Paradise Dream - Starburst Excel
7. Race: Muraweg - Bin End - Topolski