Hanagan hoping to boost title bid with York wins

The X Factor finalists headline the Music Showcase Weekend tomorrow evening and for those whose tastes extend beyond the Simon Cowell factory line, 80s chart-toppers Madness will be wowing the crowds after tonight's high-class fixture.

But it is the horses who take centre stage and the Listed European Breeders' Fund Lyric Stakes provides an opportunity for the fairer sex to pick up some invaluable black type.

Last year's renewal went the way of High Heeled, then in the care of Barry Hills, and the veteran Lambourn handler now relies on Acquainted, who had her limitations ruthlessly exposed in the Ribblesdale, but was only just touched off in the Cheshire Oaks back in May.

The Mark Johnston-trained Bikini Babe finished just in front of Acquainted at Royal Ascot, where Mudaaraah made little impact in the Sandringham Handicap. Connections of John Dunlop's Cape Cross filly would have entertained Classic ambitions last summer, but the wheels have fallen off since.

She did manage to place fourth behind dual Oaks heroine Snow Fairy at Goodwood on her penultimate outing, though, and the step back up to a mile-and-a-quarter is expected to see her in a better light at York.

Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, said: "She was a very decent two-year-old last year, winning a Listed race and getting beaten only a short head in a Group 3 at Goodwood.

"She then ran disappointingly in the Group One Fillies' Mile and has taken a long time to come to herself this year.

"John Dunlop and myself have deliberated over her best trip and thought we'd run her over a mile at Royal Ascot as opposed to the Ribblesdale Stakes over a mile-and-a-half.

"That proved too sharp for her and she should be suited by a mile-and-a-quarter at York.

"Decent ground will help and hopefully she can run well."

Multiple Listed winner Les Fazzani heads the older brigade and the recent rain will have been welcomed by Hambleton trainer Kevin Ryan. His mud-loving mare is better over further but testing conditions would bring her stamina into play.

The Paul Hanagan title charge rolls into town and in addition to Les Fazzani, the in-form rider has a selection of fancied mounts.

He teams up with his boss Richard Fahey in the Co-operative Good With Food Median Auction Maiden through Cotton Spirit, and the son of Araafa left a moderate debut effort a long way behind when second at Carlisle last month.

Tim Easterby's King Of The Celts appealed as a sure-fire future winner when filling the runner-up berth at the last meeting here, but Mudaaraah does not make the journey up from Arundel unaccompanied and her stable companion Muzdahi, who was third on his Newmarket debut, will give the local team plenty to think about.

Fahey is due to saddle a third of the field for the Sky Bet Supporting The Yorkshire Racing Summer Festival Claiming Stakes, with Hanagan on what would reasonably be expected to be the trainer's third-string.

High Ambition is rated upwards of 9lb behind stablemates Porgy and Trip The Light, but receives weight from that pair and he did strike form at this time last year.

Hanagan's championship rival Ryan Moore travels up to partner Nouriya for Sir Michael Stoute in the feature, and he has picked up a couple of interesting spares as he tries to reel in the leader.

David Barron provides the current champion with a strong chance in the shape of recent Leicester winner Melody In The Mist, who probably has too many guns for Hanagan and Fahey's Ventura Cove in the Welcome To Yorkshire Backing A Winner Handicap.

Moore again combines with the Maunby-based handler in the Seddon Property Services Handicap, but Eric Alson's King Of Eden is in search of a four-timer and presents a stern challenge to their La Zamora.

Fahey calls upon promising 5lb claimer Lee Topliss to partner Baraconti in the opening Future Cleaning Services Apprentice Handicap. The three-year-old did not relish going a mile-and-a-quarter at Haydock and will appreciate this less-taxing test, but Declan Carroll sends Choc'A'Moca the short distance from his Sledmere stables and he showed great resolution to fend off Rescent over seven furlongs at Musselburgh last time.