Exciting Sparkle Roll heads Musidora field while Brando out to make it third time lucky in Duke Of York
JOHN GOSDEN saddles Entitle and Sparkle Roll as he bids to improve on his excellent record in the Musidora Stakes at York on Wednesday.
The Newmarket trainer has taken this Group 3 contest five times in the last eight years with such stars as The Fugue and So Mi Dar.
This time he looks to Entitle, a half-sister to the brilliant Enable, and Sparkle Roll, a half-sister to the 2017 Derby hero Wings Of Eagles. Both hold entries in the Oaks.
William Haggas was victorious last year with Give And Take and relies on Frankellina, winner of her only start at Yarmouth in October.
Saeed bin Suroor is double-handed with Lingfield novice scorer Dubai Blue and Swift Rose, who ran four times in Dubai over the winter.
The sole Irish-trained entry is Fresnel from Jack Davison’s stable, Ralph Beckett saddles Sand Share while the 10-strong field is completed by Blue Gardenia, I’ll Have Another and Nausha.
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Kevin Ryan’s high-class sprinter Brando is among 10 horses declared for the Duke of York Stakes on the Knavesmire on Wednesday.
Having finished runner-up to Harry Angel in this contest 12 months ago and last of 12 in 2017, the hardy seven-year-old will try to add to his impressive CV that boasts a Group 1 triumph in the Prix Maurice de Gheest two years ago.
Ryan also has Hey Jonesy and Major Jumbo as back-up in the Group 2 feature.
Henry Candy’s popular veteran Limato has not run in this race before but won over the course and distance in September.
Final fields and odds for Wednesday's features
Musidora Stakes
Sparkle Roll 5-2
Sand Share 9-2
Frankellina 11-2
Entitle 8-1
Swift Rose 12-1
Nausha 12-1
Dubai Blue 14-1
Fresnel 14-1
I’ll Have Another 16-1
Blue Gardenia 22-1
Duke Of York Stakes
Invincible Army 5-2
Brando 9-2
Yafta 9-2
Projection 15-2
Limato 8-1
Major Jumbo 12-1
Hey Jonesy 14-1
George Bowen 16-1
El Astronaute 22-1
Ornate 50-1
The James Tate-trained Invincible Army will try to build on his victory in the Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster on his seasonal debut when he beat Major Jumbo by two lengths.
Roger Charlton’s Projection and the Richard Hannon-trained Yafta have performed with credit at Group level while York regulars El Astronaute and George Bowen and the battle-hardened Ornate make up the field.
There is no Irish representation after Fozzy Stack’s Son Of Rest and Johnny Murtagh’s Urban Beat were withdrawn following the 48-hour final declaration stage.