Dante Festival SmartPlays: Friday May 16

The first contest under consideration is the listed Marygate Stakes over five furlongs (13:45) in which the one to keep on side looks to be Tiggy Wiggy. She was a wide margin winner on her debut at Kempton and followed up in good style in a minor event at Salisbury last time to make it two wins from two starts. On both those occasions she has given the impression she's a very speedy and potentially useful juvenile, and clearly given the stage in her career she is capable of significant further improvement and rates as an exciting prospect. She's expected to put in a bold bid for a hat-trick and it would be no surprise to see her remain unbeaten and continue her rapid upward progression, although the likes of Don't Tell Annie and Patience Alexander are dangers in what looks a decent renewal of the contest. 

It's the feature contest of the day up next, the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup over 22 furlongs (14:45) and it looks a cracking race. Tac de Boistron put in an outstanding staying performance in the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot last time and Seal of Approval rounded off a brilliant season with a Group 1 victory on Champions Day in October, but both are penalised for those successes and narrow preference is given to the improving Gospel Choir. As five-year-olds go he's lightly raced and is the type of unexposed middle-distance performer his trainer has excelled with over the years; he's still improving and produced a very smart effort at Newmarket last time to land a Group 2 contest in some style. The step-up in trip won't be a problem and although plenty make some appeal, he looks a good bet at the prices and can continue on his upward trajectory at the expense of today's rivals.

The final bet of the day comes in the listed contest for fillies over a mile (15:15) where a chance is taken on the highly-regarded Radiator to get back on track. She looked an exciting prospect when routing the opposition by 15 lengths in a Lingfield maiden last September, but didn't quite live up to expectations in a Group 3 at Newmarket next time. However, the fact she went off as short as 11/10 on that occasion on only her second start gives some indication to the regard in which she's held and if she is capable of transferring what she shows at home onto the race track, you feel it would be good enough to win today's race on the way to bigger and better things. Recent Thirsk winner Pelerin is respected as she looked impressive on that occasion, but the hope is that the selection can realise her potential and put in an impressive display.

Dante Festival SmartPlays

Back Tiggy Wiggy @ 4.03/1 in the 13:45
Back Gospel Choir @ 5.79/2 in the 14:45
Back Radiator @ 6.611/2 in the 15:15