Don't miss Simon Holt's preview of day one at the Dante Festival as our man seeks a spot of value in one of the York features.
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The May meeting at York begins with some tricky punting decisions and a bit of value is sought with the Irish raider FRESNEL who looks to have a decent each-way chance in the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes after her recent fourth to the Oaks favourite Pink Dogwood at Leopardstown.
The daughter of Sea The Stars travelled well that day but lost her position when crowded half-way up the home straight only to rally gamely. Third-placed Tarnawa has since boosted the form by winning a Group Three and Fresnel looks sure to see out every yard of this mile and a quarter.
Sparkle Roll, a Kingman half sister to the Derby winner Wings Of Eagles, is likely to go off favourite after her maiden win at Sandown and looks open to much improvement. But that form is untested and she is rated some way inferior to last season's May Hill third Sand Share.
The latter is quite a taking filly. She won on her debut at Kempton (form modest) and the Doncaster run behind Fleeting (well beaten in the 1000 Guineas) is probably her best effort so far as she was a little disappointing in France on her final start.
Of the others, there is obvious potential in maiden-race winners such as Entitle (related to Enable) and Frankellina even though the form of their wins is nothing to get excited about at the moment.
In the opening Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Handicap, FIRST ELEVEN is fancied to make a winning reappearance in the hands of Frankie Dettori.
John Gosden's colt, a half brother to Kingman, was generally progressive as a three-year-old and looked one of the unluckiest losers of the season when shuffled back into third behind Baghdad and the re-opposing Corgi in the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot.
A bit disappointing next time when raised to Group Three class at Newmarket, First Eleven bounced back in impressive fashion to readily account for the very useful Ghostwatch back at Ascot before being possibly undone by soft ground in the Cumberland Lodge on his final start.
There is every chance that the son of Frankel will handle a rise to bold type company at some stage this term and, as such, must have every chance of making a winning return in handicap company.
For one more shy at the stumps, REPUTATION is taken to follow up last month's comfortable four-length victory at Ripon in the Infinity Tyres Handicap.
As a result of that success, the six-year-old is now on a career-high mark but he was having his first outing for trainer Ruth Carr that day and travelled strongly throughout. Indeed, but for being caught short of room on the stands rail for a few strides, Reputation may have won with even more in hand.
Admittedly, the horse has often gone well at Ripon but he won at York as a two-year-old and, in subsequent visits to the Knavesmire, hasn't quite had ground and distance conditions to suit. It's possible that a change of scene has worked wonders and Carr has a 'reputation' for sweetening up cast-offs from other trainers.
Preview posted at 1330 BST on 14/05/2019
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