Events / Graham Cunningham / 13 May 2008 / Leave a comment

Racing guru Graham Cunningham will preview every day of York's May Festival on betting.betfair.com. Wednesday's racing includes the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes - one of the most important Oaks trials with huge potential in the ante-post betting

Legend has it that Dick Turpin rode from London to York in under 15 hours back in the early eighteenth century.

The famous highwayman could make the same trip in just over two hours on the iron horse nowadays and, given the standard of racing on offer on the Knavesmire this week, who could blame him for leaving Black Bess in her stable?

Three of the last four Derby winners have staked their Epsom claim by winning Thursday's Dante Stakes, while Alexandrova took the Oaks after being beaten in the Musidora Stakes in 2006.

Any number of Royal Ascot scorers have used York as a springboard in recent years and, if recent history is any guide, certain themes will come to the fore once again.

Sir Michael Stoute will send his usual strong team north, while it is a racing certainty that Yorkshire trainers like Richard Fahey and Mark Johnston will have their horses primed to peak for a fixture which means so much to them.

Godolphin have often used York in may as the stage to signal that reports of their demise have been greatly exaggerated, while the presence of a powerful Aidan O'Brien raiding party adds further spice to the mix.

In short, it's the greatest midweek Festival this side of Royal Ascot. Sadly, that man Turpin ended up on the gallows on the Knavesmire back in 1739. Let's hope we don't feel like following suit when day one of Dante week draws to a close.

1.40
Richard Fahey has won this twice in recent years, but Mesbaah and Smart Instinct have questions to answer at present. By contrast, King Charles has come back from Dubai in fine form and will go very close if he reproduces the form he showed when staying on powerfully behind Proponent at Newmarket. The other two worth a positive mention are Folk Opera and Blue Spinnaker. Folk Opera returns from a long break but is plainly open to improvement, while Blue Spinnaker won this race in 2006 and has been revitalised this spring. Taking on Sir Michael Stoute at York can be very risky, but Gulf Express was well adrift of King Charles at Newmarket and will need to have come forward quickly to reverse the form just ten days later.

Suggestions: Back King Charles win and place. Lay Gulf Express for a place.

2.10
A high draw can be problematic over York's turning seven furlongs, but Generous Thought is highly progressive and still looks set to close from stall 12 given that the form of his Newbury second behind subsequent Chester scorer Huzzah looks so solid. Meydan Princess also falls into the well handicapped bracket, as she flashed home at Newmarket despite a troubled passage and can race from the same mark here. Kaldoun Kingdom is another strong contender in a fiercely competitive handicap, while it will be useful to see what the market makes of the Stoute pair of Seasider and Tanweer. Neither of the pair is well treated on the face of it, but Tanweer looks more appealing as a lay proposition given that he has left the impression that this trip will be too sharp for him as a three-year-old.

Suggestion: Lay Tanweer for a place

2.40, Tattersalls Musidora Stakes
This looks the most significant Oaks trial yet, but it's also very tough to assess given the inexperience of the main contenders. Dar Re Mi looked a relentless galloper when bolting up at Sandown, while the vibes from Ballydoyle suggest the impeccably-bred Moonstone has always been rated their best Epsom prospect. Strict ratings followers will be keen on Lush Lashes following her strong-finishing sixth in Natagora's 1,000 Guineas, while Cape Amber is another who falls into the could-be-anything category based on her impressive Newmarket debut last summer. In summary, the most likely scenario is that Fortune will try to draw the sting from the finishers by kicking for home on Dar Re Mi at the three-furlong pole. Only a bluffer could be adamant about what will happen subsequently, but Cape Amber has more to prove than most after a long absence and might just be worth a small lay in the win and place markets.

Suggestion: Lay Cape Amber win and place

3.10, Duke of York Hearthstead Homes Stakes
Expect a volatile market here, as several leading hopes need to come late and may not be at their very best over a fast six where the winner will probably break 1m 10secs. US Ranger's fine chance at the weights is tempered by the fear that a slightly stiffer track would be ideal, while Soldier's Tale got going too late for third last year and it could be more of the same on this slick surface. Balthaazar's Gift is another hold-up merchant who could find things happening quickly here and, all in all, this looks a race which might just see some less fashionable horses come to the fore. War Artist tops the list. Granted, his penalty for a South African Group 1 win makes life tricky, but he caught the eye enduring a rough trip in the Abernant at Newmarket. Assertive and Prime Defender also caught the eye in the Abernant, while Galeota's early dash could see him outrun his long price on a track which suits him well.

Suggestions: Dutch War Artist, Assertive and Galeota at big prices in the win and place market. Lay Soldier's Tale and Balthazaar's Gift for a place.

3.45
Another race in which tactics could be vital, as several leading fancies are best played late. Chief among them is Ainama, who came from way after traffic problems back at Chester and is bound to be very popular from the same mark. I wouldn't want to lay him given the acceleration he showed there, but the lightly-raced Sin City is of interest at longer odds if the market suggests that his canny connections feel he is primed for action after a lengthy absence. Veteran Sporting Gesture looks set to go well again on a track which he relishes, but Ella has yet to prove herself on fast ground and Red Wine seems unlikely to get the strong pace he requires as he bids to maintain his good rapport with the inexperienced Stacy Renwick.

Suggestions: Back Sin City win and place. Lay Ella in the win market and Red Wine in the place market.

4.20
This hardly looks a hot race by York standards and getting a firm angle is tough given that videos of the leading contenders are currently unavailable on the ATR website. The pace seems set to come from Ripon winner Caranbola and Donny runner-up Majuba, while Grand Honour is above average but also has a 7lb penalty for his Wolverhampton win. It's odd to see Ed Dunlop's newcomer Masamah fitted with headgear for his debut and, all in all, this looks one of the less appealing betting contests on an otherwise fine card.

Suggestion: Time for a soothing light ale.

4.55
A solid first day at Chester last week was spoiled slightly by a lay of Allied Forces in the finale. It's asking for trouble to take Michael Bell's horse on again, but this is his fourth run in 19 days and, more importantly perhaps, this is the fastest ground he has encountered. Collection and Indian Days are both viable alternatives, while the way that Fujin Dancer surged clear late in a Wolverhampton handicap which is working out suggests that this longer trip will be tailor made. That man Stoute is responsible for one of the potential improvers lurking at the bottom of the weights. Tomorrow's World is the filly in question, and she's bred to relish middle distances, but she didn't look anything special last year and the market ought to help as regards whether major progress is expected on her handicap debut.

Suggestion: Back Fujin Dancer win and place. Lay Allied Forces and Tomorrow's World for a place.

Tags: Assertive, Balthazaar’s Gift, Cape Amber, Dar Re Mi, Galeota, Musidora Stakes, Soldier’s Tale, Tanweer, War Artist, York Betting