Report: York, Friday

Sportingbet Yorkshire Cup (Group 2) 1m6f, 4yo+

MELBOURNE CUP bridesmaid Red Cadeaux gained a deserved reward when running out the winner of the Yorkshire Cup on the Knavesmire.

The Ed Dunlop-trained six-year-old, beaten only a nose at Flemington last November, and again runner-up in the Sagaro Stakes on his return earlier this month, challenged long-time leader Harris Tweed approaching the furlong pole and stayed on well despite drifting markedly left close home.

Glen Diamond stayed on well for second, with 9-4 favourite Harris Tweed third.

More to follow . . .

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Report: Newbury, Friday

Swettenham Stud Fillies’ Trial (Listed) 1m2f88y, 3yo

THE Queen’s Momentary stepped up on her fourth-placed debut effort to spring a 33-1 shock in this Oaks trial, though the Michael Bell-trained winner is not entered for the Epsom Classic and instead will head to Royal Ascot for the Ribblesdale Stakes.

Momentary was always prominent under Hayley Tuner and just held off a strong challenge from 5-1 shot Shirocco Star, who also ran a cracker under Darryll Holland for Hughie Morrison on her seasonal return.

The winning distance was a short head, the front two pulling nearly four lengths clear of Starscope in third, the 6-5 market leader who had chased home Homecoming Queen in the 1,000 Guineas previously.

Starscope set a moderate pace, with Shirocco Star chasing her, but Momentary travelled just as well as the runner-up and it was a match between them in the final furlong.

The Queen’s racing manager John Warren said: “We thought that rather than run her in a maiden we’d put the filly in at the deep end and see if she was good enough to run in the Ribblesdale. That will now be the plan.”

The winning jockey, who will no doubt provide Racing Post readers with further thoughts in her column in Monday’s newspaper, said: “It was very uncomplicated. She got in a lovely rhythm and kept on finding.”

Gold Show, who like the winner had finished fourth on debut and started at a big price – 25-1 in her case – also travelled well and came home fourth.

The runner-up, who is entered for Epsom, received quotes of around 25-1.

Firdaws was disappointing on her return and trailled home seventh of the eight runners.

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Frankel: will race for the first time in 2012 at Newbury on Saturday

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)  

FRANKEL makes his eagerly anticipated return to racecourse action in the Group 1 JLT Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on Saturday with trainer Sir Henry Cecil promising a “stronger and more settled horse this year”.

However, while Frankel is having his first run of the season, his main market rivals have already had an outing – something that Cecil believes is a “great advantage”.

Owned by Khalid Abdullah and rated the best horse in the world, Frankel is as short as 2-7 with Ladbrokes to brush aside six rivals in the 1m Group 1 contest and take his unbeaten record to ten races.

Cecil said: “Some of the opposition have had a race which is a great advantage, but I feel he has done enough to give a good account of himself.”

Quoted on his website, Cecil reported himself to be pleased with Frankel’s preparation despite a hold up caused by an injury sustained during a gallop during the middle of last month.

He said: “Considering Frankel had a ten-day setback I am pleased with the progress he has made in preparation for the Lockinge at Newbury on Saturday.

“One thing I am pretty sure about is that he will come on for the race and will be a stronger and more settled horse this year.”

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Red Cadeaux: likely to head Yorkshire Cup betting on back of solid form

  PICTURE: Patrick Mccann (racingpost.com/photos) 

Money-back app special for day three at York

THE York Dante meeting draws to a close on Friday but not without another superb day’s racing and app offer . . .

If your horse finishes second to Red Cadeaux in the Yorkshire Cup (2.30) we’ll give you your money back as a free bet

With solid form in the locker, Red Cadeaux is entitled to go close but with the likes of Harris Tweed, Be Fabulous and Arctic Cosmos this race is sure to be competitive. So whoever you are backing – make sure you get on through our app!

The Racing Post app is available FREE on all smartphones via our iOS, Android and web app at m.racingpost.com.

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Applies to bets placed after 5.30pm on the day prior to the race and to bets placed on the day of the race.
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Maximum refund per customer, per race £50/€50.
Applies to win or each-way single bets. Refund will only be applied to the win part of each-way bets.
Free bet will be credited before 10am the day AFTER the race.
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Worthadd (right) finishing behind Canford Cliffs at Newbury in 2011

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)  

Report, Germany, Thursday

Baden-Baden: Badener Meile (Group 3) 1m, 3yo +

FORMER Italian star Worthadd, having his first race for Sir Mark Prescott, ran away with the Badener Meile, the feature race of the second day of the Spring Meeting here.

Worthadd was ridden withgreat confidence by Mirco Demuro, who had been his regular jockey in Italy, where the five-year-old was previously trained by Vincente Caruso.

The 2010 Derby Italiano winner, who was second to Canford Cliffs in the Lockinge a yearago, moved to Sir Mark  last October when Caruso retired.

The Newmarket trainer, who watched the race at home on the internet, reported that “Mr. Caruso could not have been more helpful. Everything he told me about the horse has been correct and he tells me that Worthadd will come on a lot for his first race, so I hope he is right about that as well.”

“I am delighted that to see him win nicely on his first start for us, but we have no firm plans at present. He is entered in everything from a mile to ten furlongs.”

Mirco Demuro said: “My only worry was how he would act on his first race left-handed, but he gave me no problems at all in the race. Heseems to have strengthened up since last year and I always had the situation well under control.”

Worthadd jumped out well and Demuro soon settled him in a clear second as Gereon made the running at a good clip. He tackled the leader before the distance and soon had the race in safe keeping, while Neatico and Sir Oscar both ran on well from the rear to take the minor placings from Gereon.

The winner was certainly entitled to win the way he did,  he had almost a stone in hand on official ratings and is undoubtedly capable of playing a major role at a much higher level. The German punters saw it the same way and sent him off at 5-2 on.

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Report: France, Thursday

Le Lion d’Angers: Anjou Loire Challenge (Listed) 4m4½f, 6yo+

CHRISETI repelled a large Anglo-Irish raiding party to come home by 15 lengths to win the Anjou-Challenge for the second year running.

Wilfrid Denuault picked his way through the field on Chriseti and after Paul Carberry ‘ s challenge on Saddlers Storm ended with a mistake, the race was a duel between Chriseti and James Reveley on Maljimar.

A tired jump at the second-last ended Maljimar’s challenge and the pair were deniedfourth place by 2010 winner Another Jewel and Davy Russell.

“He was just too keen and I couldn’t get a nice lead into the race,” admitted Reveley.

Ireland’s leading contender Uncle Junior struggled on the tight turns before finishing sixth. The winner may go to the Crystal Cup season finale at Cheltenham if plans are realised to run the cross-country chase at the Open meeting in November, rather than in December.

“If they bring the race forward we might well go to Cheltenham,” said trainer Etienne Leenders.

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Hymn Book: bids to confirm Donn Handicap placings with Mission Impazible

  PICTURE: EquiSport Photos/Joe Ganley  

Preview: USA, Friday 10.51pm BST

Pimlico: Pimlico Special (Grade 3) 1m1½f, dirt, 3yo+

ONCE regarded as one of the foremost races on the calendar, the Pimlico Special makes a welcome return after a four-year hiatus with a solid field of older horses on Friday.

Reduced to Grade 3 status after its break amid financial concerns at the home of the Preakness Stakes, a race once graced by Seabiscuit, Whirlaway and Citation makes its comeback thanks to the introduction of slot machines in various Maryland venues.

The resulting $300,000 purse has attracted several Grade 1 performers to Baltimore in a competitive field for the Special featuring several horses who met in last month’s valuable Oaklawn Handicap.

Alternation (Donnie von Hemel/Luis Quinonez) completed a hat-trick with a clear victory in that Grade 2 event, where Friday’s rivals Yawanna Twist and Hymn Book were third and fourth, with last year’s Kentucky Derby runner-up Nehro further back in sixth.

Hymn Book (Shug McGaughey/John Velazquez) had broken through at the top level on his previous outing when he touched off Mission Impazible in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream in February.

The consistent Mission Impazible (Todd Pletcher/Javier Castellano), second on his last three starts, has a 7lb pull here as he gets a useful 6lb from both Hymn Book and Alternation. He doesn’t win as often as he should, though.

Endorsement (Eoin Harty/Martin Garcia) ships in from California after returning in good form following a long layoff with an ankle fracture.

Toby’s Corner (Graham Motion/Eddie Castro) is also on the comeback trail after injury and has yet to recover the form that saw him beat Uncle Mo in last year’s Wood Memorial. He breaks from the rail in a competitive event.

Also on Friday

Pimlico: Black-Eyed Susan (Grade 2) 1m1f, dirt, 3yo fillies (9.46pm BST)

Morning-line favourite here is the unbeaten Mamma Kimbo (Bob Baffert/Mike Smith), all-the-way winner of the Grade 2 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn on her most recent outing.

She could face front-end pressure from In Lingerie (Todd Pletcher/John Velazquez), a six-length winner of the Grade 3 Bourbonette Oaks last time out on the all-weather at Turfway.

She is joined by her Pletcher-trained stablemate Disposablepleasure(Javier Castellano), who was third to subsequent Kentucky Oaks winner Believe You Can last time out at Fair Grounds.

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Report: York, Thursday

Betfred Dante Stakes (Group 2) 1m2f88y, 3yo, colts, geldings and fillies

BONFIRE held off Ektihaam in this premier Investec Derby trial, the 3-1 shot saw off a persistent challenge from his Roger Varian-trained rival as the front two pulled clear in the final furlong.

Fencing finished third but Mandaean and Ernest Hemingway failed to establish their credentials for Epsom.

More to follow…

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Izzi Top sprints clear of Sajjhaa to land Middleton Stakes on Thursday

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)  

Report: York, Thursday

Betfred Middleton Stakes (Group 2) 1m2f88y, 4yo+, fillies and mares

IZZI TOP saw off the strong challenge of Sajjhaa and Frankie Dettori inside the final furlong to give trainer John Gosden and jockey William Buick another big victoryat York’s Dante meeting.

The pair were locked together approaching the furlong marker but Izzi Top found more than the runner-up and she went on to score well by a length and a half as the 7-2 favourite.

Sajjhaa, who claimed second in this race last season, had to settle for the same spot this year and she finished a length clear of the David Simcock-trained I’m A Dreamer, who had a troubled passage up the stands side rail.

Mohedian Lady, ridden by Kieren Fallon, made all the running at a decent pace and she was still in front as the runners came into the home straight.

But she was soon challenged by the strong-travelling Izzi Top and Sajjhaa, who was also moving well for Dettori on her outside.

Timepiece and Sea Of Heartbreak both launched their challenges up the inside of Mohedian Lady but they were outpaced by the leading duo.

I’m A Dreamer also attempted to challenge up the rail but she found her progress checked on more than one occasion and the leaders had quickened clear by the time she found a clear passage.

Izzi Top knuckled down well to fight off the persistent challenge of Sajjhaa and she ultimately scored convincingly to follow up her success in the Group 3 Qatar Bloodstock Dahlia Stakes last time out.

Buick said: “I really like this filly, she’s so tough and tries her hardest. What she needs now is a Group 1 and that is her obvious target.

“She jumps well from the stalls. I could probably afford to ride her a bit further back. But I just tried to make it as simple as possible – they can get away from you at the front. She was just looking around up the front a little bit.”

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Strong Suit: four-year-old will only run at Newbury if the ground is suitable

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)  

FRANKEL is 1-3 (from 4-11) for the JLT Lockinge Stakes after the declarations for Saturday’s Group 1 showpiece at Newbury.

The world’s top-rated horse will face six rivals in the £175,000 contest, with So You Think, who has the Tattersalls Gold Cup later this month as his target, and Red Jazz the two withdrawals on Thursday morning.

Strong Suit will run only if trainer Richard Hannon considers the ground to be suitable for the four-year-old, who is best on good ground. The going at Newbury on Thursday morning was good to soft.

Even if Strong Suit does not run, Hannon will still be represented through Dubawi Gold.

Sir Henry Cecil, via Frankel’s half-brother and gallopsmate Bullet Train, and Aidan O’Brien, with second favourite Excelebration and Windsor Palace, also have two declared runners.

Red Jazz’s trainer Charlie Hills runs Ransom Note, who will be ridden for the first time by Kieren Fallon.

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Sea Of Heartbreak (red and white) will bid for second Group 2 win at York

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)  

TRAINER Roger Charlton said on Thursday that York-bound Sea Of Heartbreak should ‘never be underestimated’ as she goes in search of a second Group 2 win in the Betfred Middleton Stakes.

The five-year-old mare won the Group 2 Qatar Prix De Royallieu at Longchamp last year and will be having her first run since October when she faces nine rivals at York.

Sea Of Heartbreak is a 16-1 chance with BetVictor but Charlton said: “She should never be underestimated as she is so enthusiastic and consistent and her work has been as good as ever. 

“In her last race in the E P Taylor Stakes at Woodbine, she came from an impossible position to be beaten a length and a half on ground that she did not particularly like.

“It is impossible to know whether they have improved from four to five, but she is everybody’s favourite here and even with a penalty, she should run well,” the trainer added, writing on his website.

The John Gosden-trained Izzi Top heads the betting at 3-1 with Sajjhaa available at 11-2. Set To Music, owned by The Queen, and Timepiece are both 6-1 chances with bet365.

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