Simcock fears over Montaser’s fitness

Day one of the Macmillan charity meeting, the Rail Link gelding was a rapid improver when stepped up in trip last season and was well fancied for the Cesarewitch, only for the soft ground to go against him.

He was due at Chester’s May meeting but a slight setback forced those plans to be aborted. “We lost some time and he might just be caught out for fitness. But he is in excellent form and will be suited by the ground,” said Simcock, who also runs Martin Chuzzlewit in the same race.

David O’Meara’s popular veteran Blue Bajan returns on the level after running over hurdles most recently.

Victorious in the Betfred Dante Stakes with Libertarian, Leyburn trainer Elaine Burke will be aiming for another big-race victory when Stepping Ahead lines up in the Neptune Investment Management Handicap.

The son of Footstepsinthesand has won two of his three career starts including last time out when taking a handicap at Pontefract by seven lengths.

In other racing news, the Prince Khlaid Abdullah-owned Stipulate will run at York tomorrow just five days after the death of his trainer Sir Henry Cecil.

His widow Lady Jane, and Warren Place stable staff, will have been boosted by the successes yesterday of Frankel’s half-brother Morpheus at Nottingham – he was given a canny ride by James Doyle – and Songbird’s triumph at Yarmouth.

Meanwhile, Grand National-winning trainer Sue Smith’s Bingley stable had a significant victory on the Flat when China Excels prevailed at Beverley.

His preparation was supervised by Shane Byrne, a popular and talented jump jockey whose career over obstacles has been stalled by daily struggles with his weight.