By Charlie McCann
The feature of the opening day of York's three-day Dante meeting is the Group 3 Musidora Stakes one of the leading Oaks' trials and likely to be run on soft but drying and perhaps tacky ground.
Cambridge (2.45) is currently 9/1 at BetVictor for the Epsom classic next month and has been very well supported throughout the winter and in the run up to this afternoon's reappearance. She only had one start as a juvenile when scoring over a mile at Nottingham for trainer Charlie Hills who has not had the best of luck with his fillies' of late following the death of last year's Fillies Mile winner Chriselliam and the late defection from the 1000 Guineas of leading contender Kiyoshi who might return in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh later in the month.
Her ability to handle soft ground must be taken on trust but she is out of a Selkirk mare (Alumni) who won the Cheshire Oaks in a light career on good to soft ground and she is reported to be working well at the yard of Charlie Hills. Sariska for Michael Bell was the last filly to do the Musidora/Oaks double and Cambridge will have to go close to book her place at Epsom next month.
The 7-year-old Irish raider Maarek will love the ground in the Duke Of York Stakes but he carries a 5lb penalty for his win in the Prix L'Abbeye at Longchamp back in October and he is overlooked as a result. The classic generation are represented by Astaire but he, too, must carry a 5lb penalty and a chance is taken on Moviesta (3.15) who was only beaten a couple of lengths at Newmarket on his reappearance, goes well on the Knavesmire and can reward each way support at 6/1.
The Sir Michael Stoute yard have hit top form of late and they have a fascinating contender in the opener with Rye House returning to the track after a facile win at this meeting 12 months ago on soft ground off a 10lb lower mark. Ryan Moore again takes the ride and the 5-y-o is open to further improvement given he has only had six career starts.
Lahaag is 5lb higher than when runner up in this corresponding race In 2013 but goes well fresh, loves the course and the ground will certainly not be an inconvenience. Progressive hurdler Clever Cookie has been given a mark of 88 for his handicap debut on the level and looks a shade too high but he is a fascinating contender in a hot heat.
At Perth I am looking forward to seeing the chase debut of Scimon Templar (6.35) a horse who has always promised to make up into a better chaser than hurdler. The stable of Pauline Robson have had a wretched time of things of late and have not had a winner for over 12 months but the Saint must have a great chance in such a weak contest. The form book says he unseated Tony Kelly last time but to my eyes he was brought down by the fall of Indepub. He has the scope to jump a fence and is taken to give the stable a welcome winner.
If there is no significant rain yesterday Tuesday (dry day forecast for today at the track) at Worcester I think Oscar The Myth is one to consider in the handicap chase but the same applies to Hinton Indiana who narrowly failed to land a gamble for his new yard at Plumpton last time and gave every indication that a slight drop back in trip from 3m 2f would suit. Today's 2m 7f looks ideal and it would be disappointing if he didn't go very close to getting back last month's losses.
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