NOT a great start to the Dante meeting for us, but Delegator winning the sprint with Frankie Dettori up offered a welcome ray of light on the tipping front.
York is usually a happy hunting ground for Sir Michael Stoute but the knightly presence has had a quiet time of late.
Stoute's Carlton House was being touted at Newmarket's best chance of a Derby winner before Henry Cecil's World Domination came along and took over the Hype Stakes.
Pundits at Headquarters seem split over who's going to emerge best and in-form Aidan O'Brien's Seville has got to be feared, but Stoute's best chance of a winner looks like Carlton House and he can lead them a dance.
Cecil poses a problem when he sends Midday and Timepiece for the Middleton Stakes.
Timepiece gets 5lb and finished upside his stablemate in a recent piece of work and can have the edge.
The form of Johannes last race is working out well and Richard Fahey's runners on the Knavesmire are never far away. An each-way steal is on for the opening 1.30pm sprint.
Michael Bell's is strongly represented on the card with Mont Agel (3pm) and Margot Did (3.35pm), the former with sound place prospects the latter probably worth a small but in the nose.
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