York May Meeting starts today

There has been a lot of rain in most parts of the U.K. and the ground is getting softer everywhere. Punters should bear this in mind today and also check for non-runners, of which there are plenty as a result of the changed going. The best racing today is of course at York with the start of the 3 day May Meeting, with the Dante Stakes tomorrow as the main event. Today´s big features are the Group Three Musidora Stakes for 3yo fillies,, an important Oaks Trial at 15.45 CET, and the Group Two Duke of York Stakes over 6 furlongs at 16.15.

The latter event has attracted many of the best performers at the distance, including the two Irish-trained challengers Gordon Lord Byron (Tom Hogan/ Ryan Moore), winner of the Prix de la Foret last season and last time out well behind in the Golden Shaheen in Dubai, and Maarek (David Nagle/ Paul Hanagan). Every drop of rain that falls will improve the chances of Maarek, and he is clearly preferred of this duo.The field includes the first four from last year - 40/1 winner Tiddliwinks (Kevin Ryan/ Jamie Spencer), and The Cheka (Eve Johnson Houghton/ Neil Callan), Society Rock (James Fanshawe/ Kieren Fallon) and Bogart (Kevin and Amy Ryan). Society Rock should come out best of these, but the fillies Mince (Roger Charlton/ James Doyle) and Tickled Pink (Sir Henry Cecil/ Tom Queally) both look very dangerous. Mincer ended 2013 with 4 victories, including a listed race over this CD, but is up in grade here, while Tickled Pink is very lightly raced and showed great improvement to w in at Newmarket last time, and we expect this grey filly to come out on top.

It is a long time since the Oaks winner ran in the Musidora, but the ante-post betting suggests that Liber Nauticus (Sir Michael Stoute/ Ryan Moore) should win today, as she is at just 5/1 for Epsom. She won her only start last season in very promising style. Woodland Aria (John Gosden/ William Buick) is also the winner of her only start, but that was a modest event on the all-weather. However her trainer has won this race for the past two years, so knows what is required. Indigo Lady (Peter Chapple-Hyam/ Jamie Spencer) is the highest-rated runner, having finished third in a French Group Three, but we will be surprised if she is good enough.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: First Mohican - Clayton - Lahaag
2. Race: Nocturn - York Glory - Louis The Pious
3. Race: Woodland Aria - Indigo Lady - Romantic Settings
4. Race: Mince - Tickled Pink - Society Rock
5. Race: Cockney Sparrow - Cousin Khee - Guising
6. Race: Steventon Star - Peniaphobia - Haikbidiac
7. Race: Mundahesh - Line Of Reason - Khelman