Oaks contenders set to go head-to-head in Musidora Stakes at York
Only four of the eight fillies lining up for the Group Musidora Stakes at York on Wednesday also hold entries in the Oaks but they include Teona and Noon Star, the current second and thirdfavourites respectively for the Classic at Epsom next month.
Both have shown considerable promise in limited careers to date but Teona, while shorter in the betting for Epsom, is making her turf debut on Wednesday and has not seen a track since November.
Noon Star has the benefit of a run and the form of her win at Wetherby in April got a boost at the weekend when Sherbet Lemon, nearly nine lengths behind her there, landed the Lingfield Oaks Trial.
York 1.40 This is generally a strong handicap and will be the toughest assignment yet for the progressive Ilaraab, but he should prove equal to the task. William Haggas’s colt has an entry in the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot and can complete a sixtimer here.
York 2.10Woven has yet to register a win at six furlongs – he has two victories at seven - but was within a neck of doing so on his seasonal reappearance at Redcar and has an obvious chance here if he can build on that run.
Newton Abbot 2.25 Mon Frere has the best recent form by far and will take some stopping on his handicap debut. Black Mischief was very useful two seasons ago but has not seen a track for 739 days.
York 2.40 There were few obvious excuses for Oxted, last year’s July Cup winner, when he was beaten at oddson at Newmarket last time and he goes to post with something to prove. Art Power ran well in three Group Ones last season without looking like getting his nose in front so marginal preference is for Ed Walker’s Starman, highly progressive last season until he got bogged down on soft ground in the Champions Sprint at Ascot.
York 3.40 Northern Express was half a length behind a subsequent easy winner on his return to action at Beverley last month when making only the fourth start of his career. He can race off the same mark here and looks a big price at around 9-1 to see off the favourite, Rifleman, who is up 7lb despite looking booked for second before jinking and unseating his jockey at Sandown last time out.