WITH 17 winners on the Knavesmire in the past five years, Michael Hills is the leading jockey riding at York this afternoon and can add to his tally with Good Gorsoon in a hugely competitive Betfair Sprint Handicap.
This popular fixture at York has attracted a big turnout, as has tomorrow's programme at Doncaster, and with Royal Ascot just a few days away the executives at both tracks will be delighted with the quality on view.
The big sprint handicap for thr
ee-year-olds is being run under the Betfair banner for the first time and, as the William Hill Handicap, produced some outstanding performances. The likes of Sheikh Albadou, Orientor and Tax Free progressed into Group performers and it is a race that has been won by two local trainers in recent years.
Dandy Nicholls was responsible for Tax Free and also Pepperdine and Tim Easterby saddled Artie and Dazzling Bay to score in successive years. Both are very strongly represented today, the former with the in-form Van Bossed and the Great Habton handler by the very progressive Hamish McGonagall.
The in-form yard of Karl Burke is also represented by the consistent Baldemar and it would be no surprise to see a big run from him, but it is Good Gorsoon who gets the vote.
Barry Hills's charge has been making steady progress and came with a rattling late run to win from Bosun Breeze over the minimum trip at Windsor last time. He had run well at Chester on his previous start and is the type of improving youngster his trainer does so well with.
The day begins with the lady amateurs having their day in the Queen Mother's Cup. This has turned into a bonanza for Luca Cumani and his family in recent years – the Newmarket-based Italian having won the past three runnings with horses ridden by his wife and daughter.
Ask The Butler is in pole position for today's contest and looks to have been laid out in typical Cumani style. Although 4lb worse off with Jeer for beating him a head at Newmarket last time, the longer trip will suit and he can confirm the form.
Hopefully, the locals can get on the scoresheet with Granston in the Cadogan Silver Salver Handicap. James Bethell's grey was repeatedly denied a clear run when a close sixth behind Humble Opinion here last time and can make amends.
Jimmy Quinn stole the show with a 944-1 treble at York, highlighted by Four Miracles, who now looks set for a crack at some of the major staying handicaps.
The 8-1 chance was tackling an extended two miles for the first time and brought with a steady run up the centre of the course to take up the running inside the final furlong, she battled on well to hold off Directa''s Digger by half-a-length.
The Cesarewitch at Newmarket in the autumn and looking even further ahead the Chester Cup next Spring were mentioned as possible targets for the Mark Tompkins-trained filly.
Roy Jelfs, a member of the 12-strong syndicate which owns her, added: "The ground did not suit her at Newmarket last time, Jimmy got off her and said it was too soft so when we realised that the ground was drying up here we were hopeful. We thought there was a good race in her."
Quinn was also successful on Goodbye Mr Bond (6-1) and Sohraab (14-1), with the former giving trainer Eric Alston his third success in as many days when defying top weight in game style in the First Transpennine Express Stakes
There were four still with a chance inside the final quarter-mile, but Quinn drove Goodbye Mr Bond between Just Bond and Nevada Desert to lead entering the final furlong and was driven out to score one-and-a-quarter lengths clear.
Alston was represented by his wife Sue, who said: "Goodbye Mr Bond is a star. He was a real ugly duckling as a yearling and he ran badly as a two-year-old, but Eric told his owner that he would be better as a three-year-oldk."
Hughie Morrison's Sohraab was having his first run of the season in the hss.com Stakes and he completed the Quinn three-timer with a workmanlike length success.
Tom Dascombe is in France and missed seeing Naughty Thoughts (8-1) win the Collingwood Cleaning Services Apprentice Handicap, after which winning rider Ross Atkinson said: "I moved to Tom's stable earlier in the year and things are going well. I have had four winners for him."
Nicky Lawes, who rode runner-up Sporting Gesture, was suspended for two days for careless riding and one day for using his whip with excessive frequency.
TODAY'S BESTDUKE'S DOUBLEGood Gorsoon (3.25 York), nap and My Mentor (7.55 Lingfield).
DUKE'S TREBLEGood Gorsoon, My Mentor and Maxwil (1.55 Sandown).
JULIUS'S DOUBLEAdversity (2.30 Sandown), nap and Military Power (4.00 York).
FORMNAPMilitary Power (4.00 York).
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