Gambit appeal looms

Trainer Tom Tate could consider taking the six-year-old back to the Knavesmire for the Group Two Sky Bet York Stakes on Saturday week.

"He seems okay. He's amazingly tough," said the Tadcaster handler.

"He likes York and I don't know whether we dare consider him for the Group race (the Sky Bet).

"The minimum amount of time I'd consider is a fortnight. We'll keep our eye on him and see whether we dare come to the well again."

Meanwhile, connections have lodged an appeal against the decision of the York stewards not to demote the short-head winner Wigmore Hall from first place.

The hearing is set for tomorrow morning at British Horseracing Authority headquarters in London.

"We thought we were troubled by the other horse, so we decided to appeal," Tate went on.

The trainer withdrew top-weight Distant Memories from Saturday's valuable handicap because the ground was unsuitable, but the four-year-old could go to Newbury on Saturday for the Listed Shadwell Beech House Stud Stakes if there is rain at the Berkshire venue.

"The plan is to run, if it rains," he added.

Markington is likely to be aimed at the Cesarewitch after notching up his second consecutive victory of the season in the 125th Year Of Watt Memorial Handicap at Beverley.

Peter Bowen's dual-purpose performer made the near 600-mile round trip to East Yorkshire a successful one after coming from last to first in the hands of Robert Winston.

A winner at Pontefract three weeks ago, he defied a 6lb higher mark in the 18,000 contest and looks in the form of his life.

First off the bridle, as soon as Winston pulled him into the middle of the track he picked up in style to deny the prolific Tillietudlem another win by a length and a quarter.

"I think he's my first ever runner at Beverley," said Bowen.

"He's in very good form, we were thinking about a valuable race at Newton Abbot over hurdles in August that he ran in last year, but the Cesarewitch is favourite at the moment.

"I think the key to him is a galloping track, just like at Pontefract last time he came home really strongly, so it might be wise to give Newton Abbot a miss.

"After that I think he should be high enough in the handicap and it looks like Newmarket."