Paul Hanagan - Turf Topics: Hoping Maggie's Angel at York can provide ideal start to the day

Unusually we’ve faced softer conditions at York after all the rain on Wednesday which didn’t relent from before the first race until the last. I must say though that, as always, the team at the racecourse have been doing a first-class job with the ground. The track was in such good condition that it took everything the rain Gods threw at it two days ago.

As I mentioned last week, Maggies Angel is a youngster I am particularly looking forward to riding on Knavesmire in the Listed Langleys Solicitors British EBF Marygate Fillies’ Stakes. She ran very well to win on her debut for me at Ripon – and that was on an undulating surface that wouldn’t have suited her best.

The top five in the betting in the contest at 2.20pm have all run once – and all won. Much will depend on which fillies adapt best to slightly softer going.

Reflecting on the first day of the Dante Festival, I picked out two performances on Wednesday. The first was Tasleet who won the Group 2 Duke Of York Clipper Logistics Stales under Jim Crowley. He’s a horse with which I am very familiar having ridden him more than a few times in 2015 and 2016 for Sheikh Hamdan. He won the DBS Premier Yearling Stakes at York two years ago.

The other one for the notebook was It Dont Come Easy, my ride in the British Stallion Studs EBF Novices Stakes. He ran very green and the softer ground didn’t suit, and he finished fourth. It was his first run and he’ll certainly come on for it. Watch out for him.

After riding in the first at York today, I’m off to Newcastle for the evening card on the all-weather.

Of my six booked rides, I would pick out Indomeneo in the novice stakes at 5.45pm. Although this is his debut and one never knows how horses will perform when they see a racecourse for the first time, he’s going well at home at Richard Fahey’s and is ready.

Tomorrow I’m off to Newbury where I take the reins on Toscanini in the Lockinge Stakes.

He’s a good horse, but it is a very hot race as one would expect in a Group 1. Stablemate Ribchester must have a very big chance. My best chance would probably be Andok who runs in the handicap at 2.55pm.

He has won two of his four career races to date and I think he can be excused his mid-division finish on his seasonal debut at Newmarket last time. The step up to a mile-and-a-quarter tomorrow will suit.

I’ll be back at York on May 27, the first Saturday meeting of 2017 when I hope to be riding winners in front of a big crowd.

Find out more and book tickets at www.yorkracecourse.co.uk.