Mullins mounts strong challenge on Auteuil highlight

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Willie Mullins is preparing for a French foray at Auteuil this weekend as he ponders targeting Galopin Des Champs at the meeting in the future.

The trainer was once again crowned Irish champion for the 2022-23 season, as well as enjoying multiple victories at the major spring festivals.

Though both the Irish and English seasons ended last month and are in a relatively quiet spell as the Flat takes over, there are still significant prizes to be won across the Channel.

This weekend Auteuil hosts the Grand Steeple-Chase De Paris meeting and Mullins is sending a strong squad of nine runners.

Two of those travelling, Franco De Port and Carefully Selected, will contest the ‘Grand Steep’ itself, with other familiar names such as Kilcruit, Haut En Couleurs, Klassical Dream and Asterion Forlonge entered in the supporting events.

Willie Mullins at Punchestown
Willie Mullins at Punchestown (Brian Lawless/PA)

Mullins faces tough opposition in the headline contest as his nephew Emmet Mullins has entered 2022 Grand National hero Noble Yeats, but the race has long been an aim for the Carlow trainer and he is keen to take the trophy home at some point in his career.

“There’s a great challenge from Ireland this year with Noble Yeats, he’s my nephew’s horse and he’s going to put in a big show there,” he said.

“It’s something I want to win, I’ve been trying to look for a horse that’s good enough to win it.

“I should have probably targeted it before now because I have so many French horses,  I’m just going through my runners here and seven out of the nine horses are French.

“I should have done this before, however, we’ve always concentrated on Cheltenham and Punchestown, so to get one cherry ripe over this trip at the end of the season is a bit tougher.”

Galopin Des Champs winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Galopin Des Champs winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup (David Davies/PA)

Auteuil was at one point the intended target for Galopin Des Champs, a fantastic winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup who then re-routed to the Punchestown Gold Cup where he was second.

Though his campaign eventually headed in a different direction, Mullins still has the meeting in mind for the French-bred chaser.

He said: “I’d love to bring Galopin Des Champs over and indeed he was probably en-route there, but after winning the Gold Cup at Cheltenham, we decided he’d probably better come back to Punchestown and after that I thought I should give him a break.

“He’s done everything right for us this season, possibly some other year we might bring him over. He’s a horse I’d love to see over there.”

Passenger out to book Derby ticket in Dante

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Impressive Wood Ditton scorer Passenger is entrusted with upholding Sir Michael Stoute’s fine record in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes at York.

Stoute has won the premier Betfred Derby trial seven times throughout his illustrious career and last year sent out Desert Crown to triumph on the Knavesmire before subsequently marching on to Epsom glory.

Now it is the turn of Passenger to stake his Classic claims, and having seen the rain scupper his intended outing at Chester last week, the Ulysses colt was supplemented into this Group Two event at a cost of £14,000.

“Passenger was a non-runner at Chester because of soft ground, but should have the perfect ground for him in the Dante,” said Alan Cooper, racing manager for owner the Niarchos family.

“It will be a big step up from the Wood Ditton, with the Dante being just his second start, and we will learn a bit more about him for the experience.

“It’s a stepping stone and we’ll see how he takes it, and Sir Michael will then make a plan afterwards. The hope is he is confirms the potential of the Wood Ditton and we can take it from there.”

John Gosden has won this three times in the past 10 years – including with Epsom hero Golden Horn – and alongside son Thady, will put Epictetus’ Derby credentials to the test following his success in the Blue Riband Trial last month.

“He won over a mile and a quarter in the Blue Riband on his last start and he steps up in trip this time. Hopefully the track and trip will suit him,” said Thady Gosden.

Epictetus and Frankie Dettori (left) coming home to win the Weatherbys Digital Solutions Blue Riband Trial at Epsom Downs
Epictetus and Frankie Dettori (left) coming home to win the Weatherbys Digital Solutions Blue Riband Trial at Epsom Downs (Simon Marper/PA)

“He’s come out of Epsom really well and fingers crossed he will run a nice race again.”

James Ferguson’s Canberra Legend also has a victory in a key trial to his name, having taken the Feilden Stakes in fine style and the Kremlin Cottage handler is hoping this will give an indication as to how high he should aim the unbeaten son of Australia.

“He was impressive enough in the Feilden and has done everything right so far. He’s ticked all the boxes and his last piece of work was exactly what we wanted,” said Ferguson.

“We’re going there full of confidence, but with the understanding that it is another massive step up. It’s one of the top Derby trials and we’re up against some very good horses.

“Winning a Feilden at Newmarket gives us the confidence we have a good horse on our hands and this is about finding out about how good if everything goes right – whether it is Epsom, Ascot or France.”

Canberra Legend ridden by jockey Daniel Muscutt on their way to winning the bet365 Feilden Stakes at Newmarket
Canberra Legend ridden by jockey Daniel Muscutt on their way to winning the bet365 Feilden Stakes at Newmarket (Tim Goode/PA)

Another heading to the Knavesmire with a perfect record is Aidan’s O’Brien’s Continuous, who won a Group Three in France on his final start at two and will bid to give his handler a fifth Dante as he reappears in the hands of Ryan Moore.

“This looks the most significant Derby trial so far in terms of depth,” Moore told Betfair.

“You can obviously make a case for a few given their unexposed profiles and I suppose none more so than Passenger, who impressed me when winning the Wood Ditton and comes here after being taken out of the Dee Stakes last week because of the ground.

“My colt Continuous is also unbeaten, as is the Feilden winner Canberra Legend, and he comes here in good shape, having showed a lot of ability and a very willing attitude when winning both of his races at two.

“He wouldn’t have the stamina-laden pedigree of some, but the way he won his Group Three in France over a mile in testing ground suggests this trip is well worth trying. I think he is decent, but we shall see. Ideally, he would prefer a bit of dig but good ground on a flat track like York should be fine.”

White Birch ridden by jockey Shane Foley (left) wins the P.W.Mcgrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown
White Birch ridden by jockey Shane Foley (left) wins the P.W.Mcgrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown (Niall Carson/PA)

John Murphy’s Ballysax scorer White Birch is another making the trip from Ireland, having seen his Leopardstown form upheld by the runner-up at the Dublin track recently.

“He’s in super form. We couldn’t be happier with him and we’re looking forward to it,” said George Murphy, assistant to his father.

“This is a bigger test again and it will be good to see what White Birch can now do. It looks a very hot race on paper and everyone is going there thinking they have the winner. Hopefully he is good enough, but he is in good shape and we think he will run a big race.”

Charlie Appleby won the Dante with Hurricane Lane in 2021 and having seen Military Order fly to the top of the Derby betting when scoring at Lingfield on Saturday, now looks to add a second string to his Epsom bow with Flying Honours, who ended a fine juvenile campaign by winning the Zetland Stakes in October.

“Flying Honours was meant to run at Sandown last month, but the meeting was abandoned, so we took him for a racecourse gallop at Newmarket instead,” the Moulton Paddocks handler told godolphin.com.

“We were very pleased with how that went and he goes into this in great order.

“We know that he gets this trip, having won the Zetland on his final two-year-old start, and feel that he has the scope to improve again as we step him up over further. It looks a competitive renewal of the Dante and whoever wins will be a leading player for the Derby.”

Andrew Balding’s The Foxes accounted for Flying Honours when claiming the Royal Lodge at two and made an encouraging return when second in the Craven Stakes last month. The Churchill colt could be suited by the step up to 10 furlongs, as could Roger Teal’s consistent Dancing Magic, who was a place behind in third at Newmarket.

A mile and a quarter could also play to the strengths of the King Of Steel, who created a taking impression on debut at Nottingham last year and was then been deemed good enough to take his chance in a Doncaster Group One shortly after.

He has since joined Roger Varian ahead of his Classic season and the Carlburg Stables handler believes he is giving all the right signals in his work at home.

King Of Steel after winning on debut at Nottingham
King Of Steel after winning on debut at Nottingham (PA)

He said. “He was impressive on his first start last year then he ran in the Group One at Doncaster.

“He has trained like a good horse all spring and we’re looking forward to running him.

“He’s a big horse but light on his feet and we’ll see how he measures up in the Dante, which will give us some direction whether he is an Epsom horse or a horse for one of those races at Royal Ascot.”

Burradon Stakes scorer Dear My Friend and Feilden third Killybegs Warrior both represent Charlie Johnston, while Karl Burke’s Liberty Lane completes the line-up, having chased home Waipiro at Newmarket.

Rocket Rodney shoots for glory in Westow Stakes

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There could be plenty of pace on show in York’s British EBF 40th Anniversary Westow Stakes where Rocket Rodney attempts to return to winning ways on reappearance.

Trained by George Scott, the speedy son of Dandy Man was an ultra-consistent performer last term, with the only blot on his copybook coming in his final outing of the year when making a raiding mission to France.

A Listed winner in the Dragon Stakes at Sandown last season, he also placed in a whole host of high-class five-furlong events, including when beaten a neck by Little Big Bear in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot and runner-up in the Group Three Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood.

Scott reports his charge to have strengthened up from two to three and is eager to see if he retains all the sprinting attributes which made him so successful as a juvenile.

“He was a very capable two-year-old throughout last year and his final run didn’t reflect his season in any way, so we have got to put a line through that,” he said.

“I’ve been pleased with his work in the spring. He’s done very well physically from two to three, he hasn’t grown a huge amount but he’s definitely matured.

“I think there’s always a question mark over precocious two-year-olds that have had a relatively busy season as to how they train on, and you don’t know until they get to the track. But he’s ready to get started and I have a plan for him this season, and this is very much day one.

“It’s a track he has run well at and it looks a very sensible starting point for him. I would expect him to come on for the run, but he’s more than ready to do himself justice.”

David Loughnane’s Walbank was a place behind Rocket Rodney in third when the pair locked horns in the Molecomb last July, with the talented son of Kodiac finishing no worse than third in four outings during 2022 – a CV which also includes a silver medal in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot.

His Goodwood outing was the final time he was sighted at two and the Amo Racing-owned colt returns following 295 days off the track at the scene of arguably his finest hour, on the course and distance over which he shed his maiden tag in fine style.

“He was a very good two-year-old,” said Loughnane. “He had a slight setback which took a bit of time and we’ve given him every chance. He’s come back a bigger horse and I’m pleased with him.

“He’s in good order and wears a tongue-tie first time, and obviously he’s going back to where he won his maiden and hopefully we get a similar result.

“He was just outside the time of the last five Nunthorpe winners – he was very impressive that day and the track definitely suits him. He’s a nice horse and one to look forward to.”

Kevin Ryan’s Silent Words went down by a head to the well-regarded Tajalla at Musselburgh earlier this month and is one of two for owners Clipper Logistics, alongside Karl Burke’s Pillow Talk, who won the Marygate Stakes over track and trip at this meeting 12 months ago.

Burke trained the one-two in this last year and is also represented by Looking For Lynda, with Richard Fahey’s hat-trick-seeking Great State and Declan Carroll’s unbeaten Changeofmind adding to the Yorkshire-trained challenge.

Pillow Talk winning the Marygate Stakes on the Knavesmire in 2022
Pillow Talk winning the Marygate Stakes on the Knavesmire in 2022 (Tim Goode/PA)

Meanwhile, Aidan O’Brien will bid to land a blow for Ireland with Hispanic. The son of No Nay Never won only one of his four starts last term, but showed plenty of class when doing so, romping to an eight-length victory at the Curragh.

“I haven’t sat on him in a race, but he stepped up well when fitted with blinkers at the back-end, winning by a wide margin at the Curragh and running OK in Listed company at Doncaster,” jockey Ryan Moore told Betfair.

“Hopefully he can progress this season and be suited by the better ground he will encounter here. He likes to get on with it and he can go a bit judged on his Curragh win.”

Rogue Spirit (Tom Clover), Katey Kontent (Clive Cox) and Michaela’s Boy (Mick Appleby) are the others engaged in the five-furlong contest.

Soul Sister stakes Oaks claim with dominant Musidora verdict

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Frankie Dettori’s farewell season continues to provide big-race winners and the Italian could have found himself the perfect partner for the Betfred Oaks as Soul Sister romped to Tattersalls Musidora Stakes victory at York.

A winner on debut at Doncaster at two, the John and Thady Gosden-trained daughter of Frankel was never involved in the Fred Darling when making her return to the track at Newbury last month.

However, she thrived for the step up to 10 furlongs in this renowned Epsom trial and having been ridden patiently as the main protagonists of Infinite Cosmos, Gather Ye Rosebuds and Novakai were all prominent in the early stages, no filly was travelling better as the runners straightened for home.

Still to ask his mount for maximum effort as the rest of the field came under a drive, Dettori soon pushed the button and the response was immediate with the 18-1 winner storming clear of her rivals to record a clear-cut four-length success.

The Gosdens and Dettori combined to win this with Emily Upjohn 12 months ago before being narrowly denied at Epsom and Soul Sister is now a 5-1 chance with Coral and 4-1 with both Betfair and Paddy Power to hit the target in the fillies’ Classic on June 2.

John Gosden said: “We liked her at Doncaster but when you’ve won your only race, you are almost forced into a trial. We ran in the Fred Darling but the ground was bottomless. It ended up being a nice piece of work.

“Lady Bamford won this with Star Of Seville, so I was keen to run to see what we had. I didn’t expect her to win by four lengths but I did think she’d definitely be in the three. It’s wonderful for an owner/breeder to win a race like this.

“Frankie thinks she should run in the Oaks, so we will. Frankie is having a good spell, he was in Belmont last week. It looks like he has a chance in the Oaks and the Derby is quite open too, so we’ll see what happens in the Dante.

“She’s trained very well for this, I’d explained to Lady Bamford we needed to find out what we had and I knew the trip and ground would improve her.

“Recently she’s really come to herself, a lot of fillies have struggled this year with the cold and wet spring. She’s really bloomed in her coat and shown her class today.

“At the moment, I’ll talk to Oisin (Murphy) again, but I think we’ll have Running Lion (Pretty Polly winner) in the Oaks as well. At this moment we’ve got two lovely fillies.”

Frankie Dettori has a live Oaks hope
Frankie Dettori has a live Oaks hope (Mike Egerton/PA)

Dettori added: “John liked her but the ground and the distance at Newbury were wrong and John’s horses all needed the run.

“She gave me a great feel, travelled well, quickened twice and won by four lengths. I wasn’t really expecting that!”

Karl Burke was satisfied with Novakai’s effort in second, but feels the Prix de Diane is a more likely target for his charge.

“You’re always a bit disappointed when you get beat, but she ran a lovely race for her first run and the winner had a run under her belt.

Novakai (right) could now head to France
Novakai (right) could now head to France (Mike Egerton/PA)

“She got in a nice rhythm. With hindsight we probably could have gone and made the running, but they were going a nice, even gallop and she quickened up once and just keeps galloping after that.

“I have to speak to the owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, but I would say the French Oaks (Prix de Diane) is probably favourite. She is in the English Oaks as well and I’m sure she would stay a mile and a half, but I know Sheikh Mohammed Obaid was favouring the French Oaks beforehand.

“She’s a high-class filly and had some good fillies behind her today.”

Sir Michael Stoute would have preferred not to set the pace with Infinite Cosmos, who was beaten a further half-length in third as the 15-8 favourite.

He said: “She ran a nice, solid race and stays well.

“She’s still a little bit raw. It wasn’t really the plan (to make the running), we just sort of found ourselves there. We would have liked a lead.”

Richard Fahey could look to France with Midnight Mile
Richard Fahey could look to France with Midnight Mile (Julian Herbert/PA)

Midnight Mile came home fourth for Richard Fahey, who said: “She ran well and there was plenty of strength in depth in the race.

“I just felt she got tired in the last furlong, so that will put her right.

“We’ll keep her at that trip at the moment, definitely. On the dam’s side she can go further in time, but at the moment I’m thinking of the Prix de Diane and I haven’t changed my mind.”

Azure Blue swoops late to grab Duke of York crown

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Azure Blue outbattled defending champion Highfield Princess to claim her fourth straight victory in a thrilling edition of the 1895 Duke of York Clipper Stakes at York.

The four-year-old had won three of her last four outings last term and following a reappearance victory in the the Kilvington Stakes at Newmarket earlier this month, she extended her winning streak on the Knavesmire to lead home a fantastic one-three for Darlington-based handler Michael Dods.

There was plenty of pace on show in this six-furlong affair and as the runners entered the business end, it looked like John Quinn’s Highfield Princess was about to pick up from where she left off last term.

However, Paul Mulrennan aboard Azure Blue was always lurking dangerously in her shadow and having drawn alongside in the final furlong, the duo edged their way to the front as the winning post loomed.

Half a length separated the pair at the finish, with Azure Blue returned the 12-1 winner and stablemate Commanche Falls a further length and a quarter adrift in third.

Dods said: “She’s done nothing but improve since the end of last season. We didn’t feel we had her ready at Newmarket as she’d had a few issues, nothing serious but we just didn’t feel we’d got the work in. She went there and did it well and I knew there was improvement to come.

“It was a big step up to go from a Listed mares’ race to today, but looking at the calendar there wasn’t a lot else coming up in the short-term, which is why we came here.

“I think today she’s shown she’s a proper Group One horse.”

Azure Blue is not entered in either the King’s Stand or the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, but Dods – who memorably claimed back-to-back wins in the Nunthorpe at York with Mecca’s Angel – did not rule out supplementing if conditions in Berkshire are in her favour.

He added: “I don’t know where we’ll go now. Because today was the start of her career really in these races, we hadn’t made any plans and didn’t have her in some of the early-closing races.

“I wouldn’t be frightened to come back to five furlongs with her on slow ground, so there’s plenty of targets for her and a lot to look forward to.

“You would have to look at that (Prix de l’Abbaye), that would be on my radar, but we’ll have to see what we do in between times.

“She’s not entered (at Royal Ascot) so we’ll discuss and see. I’m not sure what the supplementary price is and we wouldn’t want to run on ground any faster than today, so we’ll make a decision nearer the time.

“Mecca’s Angel was different, she was all speed and everything was five furlongs. This filly set off at six, but she’s getting that speed a bit later on now as a four-year-old. She is in that class.”

Of Commanche Falls, Dods said: “I thought he ran a super race. It was a big step up in class. The pace of the race helped him but the run was excellent – I couldn’t fault it.

“To have the first and third in what is really a Group One is tremendous for everyone involved.”

Highfield Princess (red) had to give best to Azure Blue
Highfield Princess (red) had to give best to Azure Blue (Mike Egerton/PA)

Quinn was thrilled with Highfield Princess’ reappearance effort, particularly as the mare had to concede weight all round.

He said: “Nobody knows from year to year if a horse is going to maintain its ability, especially going from five to six (years of age) for a mare, so we’re delighted.

“She showed all her old enthusiasm there and she always come on for her first run of the season so we’re very pleased.

“We’re as pleased as one can be without winning as she carried a Group One penalty there.

“It will be Group One sprints all the way now, so she won’t be giving that weight away.

“I think looking at that today it will be the King’s Stand at Ascot over five as she’s got speed to burn.

“If we’re lucky she’ll go down the Group One five-furlong route, so the King’s Stand, Nunthorpe, Flying Five and the Abbaye.

“We’re delighted because she showed all her enthusiasm.”

The contest was marred by the death of Charlie Appleby’s Group One winner Creative Force, who sustained a fatal injury.

In a statement on the Godolphin website, Appleby said: “We are very saddened with the passing of Creative Force, who was a real yard favourite at Moulton Paddocks.

“It’s a very sad day for everyone at Godolphin to lose a horse who always wore his heart on his sleeve and put up great performances year after year. We would like to thank William Derby and all his team at York for handling a difficult situation with speed and compassion.”

Scampi provides tasty York triumph for Turner

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Hayley Turner teamed up with Andrew Balding to win the first race at York in 2023 on Scampi.

The five-year-old had finished fifth in a recent pipe-opener at Epsom and stripped much fitter for the Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Jorvik Handicap.

Carrying the colours of microshare ownership group RaceShare, Scampi was sent off at 16-1, but those who took that price were never unduly worried as Turner smuggled him into the race travelling extremely well with two furlongs to run.

Having hit the front a long way out, Scampi was kept up to his task and had plenty in hand in beating Sam Cooke by half a length, with favourite Real Dream another half a length away in third.

Anna Lisa Balding, the trainer’s wife, said: “It’s always difficult in these high-quality handicaps, but he is in really good form and has done nothing wrong at home.

“Hayley has given him a beautiful ride and he really deserves this, it’s fantastic and we are thrilled.

“It’s so great to see people (owners) who are so passionate. I’m getting lots of beeps (messages) from all our staff saying ‘I’m a winning owner’, so they’ve obviously invested as well!

“He’s travelled so well stepping back up in trip. Like all these handicappers, everything has got to be right on the day and today was his day. The trainer has done quite a good job!”

The Kevin Ryan-trained Bielsa got back on the winning trail in the Churchill Tyres Handicap.

Bielsa and Oisin Murphy (far side) strike gold at York
Bielsa and Oisin Murphy (far side) strike gold at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

The eight-year-old had not managed to get his head in front since lifting the 2021 Ayr Gold Cup, but as a result was 3lb lower in the weights ahead of his latest assignment on the Knavesmire.

Fresh from a runner-up finish on his seasonal bow at Redcar, Bielsa quickened up to grab the lead with over a furlong still to run in the hands of Oisin Murphy and had enough in hand to repel the challenge of Lethal Levi by a neck. The winner’s stablemate Magical Spirit was best of the rest in third.

“He’s done very well for us. He travelled very well today, Oisin probably thought he got there a little bit too soon but it’s great to see him come back and win a very nice prize,” said Ryan.

“He likes it here and he’s come back in very well after his winter break and progressed from his first run. Hopefully he can build on that

“He kept straight and true today, which he hasn’t always done, but he ran right through the line there so he hasn’t done much wrong.

“That was also a fabulous run from Magical Spirit as he wants the ground softer as it’s genuine good ground out there.”

Sean Levey was gifted on easy lead on Richard Hannon’s Dark Thirty (10-1) and took full advantage in the Conundrum HR Consulting Handicap.

Highly-tried as a juvenile after winning on his debut at Newbury, he looked one of the more exposed runners in the 14-runner field but just held on from the closing Catch The Paddy by a neck.

“He can be a bit gassy, but he’s a lovely horse who did ever so well on his first couple of starts as a two-year-old and probably reached his ceiling in the latter part of the year,” said Levey.

“He’s done well over the winter and got stronger and with every run he’s getting there.

“I think that sort of race (Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot) will suit him.”

Tom Marquand rode the winner of the last
Tom Marquand rode the winner of the last (David Davies/PA)

Adrian Keatley’s Kihavah landed the closing Stuey Weston & Friends Getting Out Handicap for a second successive year.

Ridden by Tom Marquand, the 7-1 shot repelled the challenge of 9-2 favourite Vega Sicilia to win by a length.

Keatley said: “We gave him a little break and then had a run over hurdles (at Ayr). The lads are all Scottish and that just left him right.

“We waited for this race and that was good.”

Middleton a ‘good starting point’ for Free Wind

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Free Wind will bid to justify the decision to supplement her for the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies’ Stakes when she lines up at York on Thursday.

It cost connections £11,200 to add the daughter of Galileo to the 10-furlong event and she now has the chance to scoop her third success at Group Two level.

Trained by John and Thady Gosden she was seen just once last season, when galloping to victory in the Lancashire Oaks at Haydock in July, where a bump she received in running did enough to subsequently curtail her campaign.

She now drops back in trip on her return, attempting to enhance a fine record of five wins from just seven starts.

“She has shown good form over a mile and a half to a mile and six (furlongs), but York is a nice, galloping track and we feel it is a good place to start her off,” said Thady Gosden.

“She won up at Haydock, but during the race she got squeezed up on the rail and unfortunately it affected the rest of the season for her.

“But she has been good at home, she has won five out of six on the turf and she has enough speed to win over 10 furlongs. She has always had plenty of ability and this will tell us more where she goes afterwards.”

Aristia (right) finishing second in the Middleton Stakes in 2022
Aristia (right) finishing second in the Middleton Stakes in 2022 (Tim Goode/PA)

Richard Hannon’s Aristia is the only Group One winner in the line-up, having taken the Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville last season. She also has a fine record here on the Knavesmire and finished second in this contest 12 months ago.

On that occasion Aristia had to play second fiddle to William Haggas’ Lilac Road and this time the Somerville Lodge handler is represented by Sea Silk Road, who has some smart form to her name including when finishing second in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot last term.

One of the most intriguing runners in the field is Toskana Belle, last year’s German Oaks heroine, who now begins life in the care of Roger Varian.

As well as Classic success at Dusseldorf, the four-year-old also went down narrowly in the Grade Three Jockey Club Oaks Invitational Stakes at Aqueduct when trained by Andreas Wohler, and Varian is keen to see his new recruit step out onto the racecourse in the UK for the first time.

He said: “She’s a nice filly and has been working well. She has some strong three-year-old form from Germany and America last year, and we’re looking forward to getting her started.

“I think 10 furlongs on a track like York is a nice starting point for her and will give us a good direction moving forwards.”

Rogue Millennium caught the eye when a staying-on third in the Prix Allez France at ParisLongchamp and represents Tom Clover, while Ryan Moore gets the leg up aboard Ralph Beckett’s State Occasion, who was a track and trip scorer in a handicap here during last year’s Ebor Festival.

“She is the lowest-rated in here, but what she does have going for her is her best performance came over course and distance last season and she likes decent ground,” the jockey told Betfair.

State Occasion on her way to winning the Assured Data Protection EBF Fillies’ Handicap at York
State Occasion on her way to winning the Assured Data Protection EBF Fillies’ Handicap at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

“She also goes well when fresh, so if she is primed for this, perhaps more so than the others, then she is not without a chance. She does have a tough task on what we know, though.”

Beckett added: “She is ready for it and she likes the track and the trip. It will be tough, but she’s ready for it.”

Hughie Morrison’s Stay Alert and Karl Burke’s Poptronic complete the eight-strong field.

O’Brien bids to sweep Yorkshire Cup duck aside with Broome

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Dubai Gold Cup winner Broome will take on six rivals as he attempts to give Aidan O’Brien a first victory in the Boodles Yorkshire Cup on Friday.

So far, the Group Two York marathon has eluded the master of Ballydoyle, but he possesses a strong hand on this occasion, having seen his Royal Ascot winner thrive for the step up to two miles at Meydan where he downed the reopposing Siskany close to the finish.

Hughie Morrison’s Quickthorn could only finish sixth on that occasion, but was an emphatic 14-length winner on his last visit to the Knavesmire when he claimed the Lonsdale Cup.

Brian Ellison’s Tashkhan was amongst the beaten horses then and will try to improve on last year’s third in this race, while Roger Varian’s St Leger hero Eldar Eldarov has Ascot Gold Cup aspirations and will be looking to confirm Doncaster form over Marco Botti’s Leger third Giavellotto.

A cast of 10 potentially smart fillies go to post for the Oaks Farm Stables Fillies’ Stakes, where John and Thady Gosden’s Queen For You will attempt to build on a taking debut at Ascot.

Charlie Appleby’s Silver Lady also impressed on her racecourse bow, while similar sentiments apply to William Haggas’ Fakhama who triumphed at Newbury in April.

Silver Lady ridden by William Buick when winning at Newmarket
Silver Lady ridden by William Buick when winning at Newmarket (Tim Goode/PA)

Ralph Beckett’s Juliet Sierra brings Group One form and experience to the table, with Stormy Sea and Orchid Bloom two others of note.

The other Listed action is the Clipper EBF Marygate Fillies’ Stakes that opens Friday’s card, and there could be could be plenty of pace on show as Newmarket one-two Persian Dreamer and Dorothy Lawrence lock horns once again.

The latter represents last year’s winning handler Karl Burke, who also runs Nottingham scorer Got To Love A Grey, while Persian Dreamer’s handler, Dominic Ffrench Davis, is double-handed as well with Treasure Storm, another last-time-out winner amongst the 10 declared.

Artistic Star makes an impression to forward Derby case

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Derby entrant Artistic Star showed a very willing attitude to take his record to two from two and enter the Epsom picture with victory in the Darley British EBF Novice Stakes at Sandown.

The Ralph Beckett-trained, Jeff Smith-owned Galileo colt was making his three-year-old bow after winning a Nottingham maiden in October.

Stepping up to a mile and a quarter from the extended mile of that run, he saw out every yard under Rob Hornby to readily hold off Torito by a length and a quarter as the the 9-4 favourite.

Beckett – who saddled Westover to be an unlucky-in-running third in last year’s Derby – said: “He is a smashing horse. He is a May 27 foal and he has only just been ready for this now.

“We will see how we go with him, but whatever we do next we will have a load of sport with him because he is still a horse in the making I feel.

“Jeff, David (Bowe, racing manager to the owner) and I will have a chat in a fortnight’s time and see how we feel.

“We wanted to go to Lingfield (for the Derby Trial) and that opportunity was taken away from us so this was a really good spot for him.”

As well as the Derby, the winner holds an engagement in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Beckett added: “It is not a bad shout, Ascot, as Jessie Harrington had the full-sister (Forbearance) and she was adamant she needed fast ground and so if we did get into our heat of summer the King Edward VII might seem like a target.

“I’d be a little bit concerned it is only two and a half weeks until Epsom and he might just bounce.”

Slipofthepen loses unbeaten record at Sandown

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Slipofthepen had to settle for third, as Captain Winters was given a superb, enterprising ride by Neil Callan to cause an upset in the Listed Heron Stakes at Sandown.

Royal runner Slipofthepen – who came into the race unbeaten after landing two all-weather mile races at Kempton – was sent off the 4-9 favourite under James Doyle to win for the King and Queen.

However, the John and Thady Gosden-trained Night Of Thunder colt was a stride or two slow from the stalls and was still last of the quartet turning for home.

Slipofthepen and James Doyle after finishing third at Sandown
Slipofthepen and James Doyle after finishing third at Sandown (John Walton/PA)

Though he appeared to travel well as the keen Grey’s Monument set the pace, Slipofthepen did not pick up as expected.

Callan stole a march on the Kevin Ryan-trained 12-1 outsider approaching two furlongs out and with Finn’s Charm – who had beaten him 10 lengths at Musselburgh – folding quickly, it was left to the long-time leader to keep up the challenge.

Though Captain Winters tired near the line, he just had enough to score by a fast-diminishing nose.

Gosden senior pointed towards the ground playing its part in Slipofthepen’s reverse.

“He just found the ground a little tacky. He is a horse that loves top of the ground,” he said.

“He just laboured in the ground and he didn’t have his usual zip. But you are coming from the all-weather to his first race on turf which is a big difference.

“It is a good stiff track Sandown and he didn’t float off the ground. He was a little bit keen, but I’m not blaming that. The ground was just a little bit tacky for him.

“We will see how he is when he gets home then make plans.”

Of the winner, Ryan said: “I’m delighted with him. Off his rating he did have a bit of work to do, but we thought a lot of him last year.

“He is from a family that generally improves with age. You could put a line through his run last time at Musselburgh as I just thought the track didn’t suit him.

“I think he is a horse that just saves a bit for himself, but if you think you have a good horse it is worth pitching them in to good races.

“I don’t go into races like this to make up the numbers. If I’m wrong, then I’m wrong.

“We will have a chat with Sheikh (Mohammed) Obaid (Al Maktoum) over the next few days and see what to do.

“There could be options to go over to France with him, while we will also see what options there are at home. It is nice to have opportunities to make such plans.”