Duchess has class to take revenge at York

The first of two fiendishly competitive days of racing on Knavesmire gets under way today, and the best bet could prove to be Duchess Dora in the Charles Clinkard Fine Footwear Anniversary Handicap.

Trained by John Quinn at Malton, the Tagula filly was a prolific winner as a juvenile, before finding things difficult after winning on her reappearance as a three-year-old, as so many sprinters do.

However, when visiting York, she placed third on all three visits to the track.

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This season has started slowly, but after finishing down the field at Beverley, she was not too far away behind the re-opposing Ancient Cross at the Dante meeting.

The four-year-old took another step forward to finish third at Ayr last time and, with that under her belt and a 5lb pull in the weights with her York conqueror, she can get back to winning ways here.

Another Malton handler with big claims is Julie Camacho, as Beat The Rush steps up to two miles for the Bond Tyres Handicap.

A full-brother to the very smart National Hunt horse Bouggler, the Tobougg gelding enjoyed a profitable three-year-old season last year, winning twice and finishing second twice over a mile-and-a-half.

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Camacho brought him back in a hotly-contested Musselburgh handicap over a mile-and-three-quarters, where he stayed on at the one pace for third place.

That run is likely to have brought him on enormously, and the ground that day was far from ideal as the rain had got into it, so a much-improved effort is expected.

Left on what appears to be a feasible mark and with the assistance of Tom Eaves, who has scored twice on him from just three rides, in the saddle, he can strike.

The Acturis EBF Maiden Stakes gets proceedings under way and sees Right Result attempt to make it third time lucky on his second visit to Yorkshire.

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Just a nose behind stablemate Sixx at Salisbury on his debut, the Acclamation colt appeared to run out of steam in the final furlong over six at Ripon, so this drop back in trip looks likely to suit.

Trainer Richard Hannon is certainly hopeful, and he told his website: “Right Result has been a warm favourite for both his races, so, hopefully, he can make it third time lucky.

“He is a big colt who is still a bit weak but he is in good form at home and we have Kieren Fallon to ride.”

The William Birch & Sons Ltd Handicap over nine furlongs is an ideal opportunity for those who do not quite see out 10 furlongs and those who get going too late over a mile. One who firmly fits the latter category in this race is Spavento.

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Eric Alston’s mare has been in sparkling form this season and looked in need of this slight step up in distance at Ayr last time, when he was short of room for a time in the home straight before finishing strongly for third.

The Verglas grey has not got a good strike rate, but she is talented enough and could be there or thereabouts.

Selling races are usually among the worst fare on offer in racing, but with over £6,000 to the winner, the SKF Rous Selling Stakes is likely to prove a somewhat classier affair.

The defection of Musselburgh winner Act Your Shoe Size, who saw his form franked in fine fashion on Tuesday, appears to leave this race at the mercy of Arcticality.

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Richard Fahey’s filly was disappointing at Ripon on her debut, before running second to Bannock, who has since gone close in Listed company.

Dropped into this grade for her last start at Thirsk, the Camacho filly finished well to land the spoils, and evidently impressed Paul Hanagan enough for him to stay loyal to her rather than opt to ride stablemate Artists Corner.

David O’Meara’s career as a trainer has had a tremendous start, and fresh from notching 50 winners since joining the training ranks last June, he looks to have strong claims in the Betfair Classified Stakes with El Torbellino.

The Chineur filly was last seen running a cracker over course and distance, proving she stays this trip when fourth behind Sud Pacifique.

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The form of that race is working out reasonably well, with the second that day having gone on to run a similar race in a valuable handicap at Musselburgh last time, so O’Meara can take heart from that.

That latest effort was only his second run of the season, so it is reasonable to assume that there may be more to come from the three-year-old.

The Future Cleaning Service Apprentice Handicap looks a near-impossible ‘getting out stakes’, so it is probably best to keep bets to a minimum, though Indochina ran well on his first start for some time at Wolverhampton in March, has been freshened up for this, and has the very able Adam Beschizza doing the steering.

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