Johnny Murtagh, who was in the hot-seat aboard the triumphant Alamshar in yesterday's Derby trial at the Curragh, has a date with a possible Oaks candidate tomorrow at York's opening meeting of the season.

The crack Irish jockey teams-up with Mananiyya in the £60,000 Group Three Tattersalls Musidora Stakes and I fancy this Sir Michael Stoute-trained filly to come through this Group 3 test with flying colours, just as Islington did for the same stable 12 months ago.

Owned, like Alamshar, by the Aga Khan, Mananiyya, a creditable runner-up on her only juvenile outing, fulfilled that promise on her reappearance at Windsor four weeks ago, winning easily by five lengths in maiden company over a mile.

Tomorrow's longer trip and stiffer opposition is very much an acid-test for Mananiyya, but this potentially high-class filly can put her marker down for the Epsom Oaks by coming out on top over the big Godolphin hope, Echoes In Eternity.

A total of eight fillies will go to post tomorrow for the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes.

Sir Michael, whose long-standing love-affair with York stems from his early racing career as a pupil-assistant to Norton trainer Pat Rohan back in the 1960s, could also be on the mark with Arakan in the williamhillcasino.com Handicap.

A maiden-race winner on his comeback outing this season, Kieren Fallon's mount has since gone down fighting in an ultra-competitive handicap at Newmarket. He can get back on the winning trail here.

On a day when racegoers can roar home the winners from York's new £20m Ebor stand, the most valuable race is the £100,000 Group Two Duke of York Heathstead Homes Stakes over six furlongs, which has 16 runners .

Following a horse in form at this early stage of the season is often the safest policy and nothing in this field is in better heart than Needwood Blade, trained by Bryan McMahon.

Winner of his last two starts, including the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket, where he overcame dropping back to the minimum distance, Needwood Blade will relish stepping back up to six furlongs here and what is more he is a a previous course-and-distance winner. He should give Richard Quinn a great ride.

Sporting Gesture looked a touch unlucky not to win at Chester last week, but could get compensation by taking the Simon Storage Handicap.

This is a tougher race than his latest assignment, but Mick Easterby's previous course winner is fancied to make good use of his light weight.

My Nap vote is awarded to Majestic Desert in the EBF Novice Fillies' Stakes.

Mick Channon's highly-regarded juvenile justified odds-on favouritism in good style on her debut at Warwick and is taken to have the edge over the David Loder-trained newcomer Cara Bella.

While Loder's debutant Kheleyf is an interesting newcomer in the concluding race, the ripleycollection.com Racing Jewellery Maiden Stakes, I think recent winner Blythe Knight will get punters off to a good start in the opening race of the afternoon, the Newton Investment Management Rated Handicap.

Tuesday's tips:

York

1.30 Blythe Knight, 2.00 Arakan, 2.30 Mananiyya, 3.00 Needwood Blade, 3.35 Sporting Gesture, 4.10 Majestic Desert (Nap), 4.40 Kheleyf.

Hereford

1.45 Court Shareef, 2.15 Tagar, 2.45 Commanche Hero, 3.15 Burning Truth, 3.50 Dabarpour, 4.25 Mister Flint, 4.55 Quetal.

- Tom O'Ryan's Nap for today's racing is: Royal Approval (Windsor 7.45).

Updated: 12:04 Monday, May 12, 2003