Yorkshire Cup conquest chartered by Ballydoyle clan

10:08am Thursday 15th May 2008

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Yeats and Septimus may have been left at home, but Aidan O'Brien can still win tomorrow's Yorkshire Cup on the final day of York's May Festival.

It is some indication of the strength in depth in O'Brien's Ballydoyle team that in Yeats he has a horse who has been top of the staying tree for the last two years, and in Septimus, he has a horse who is twice a winner on Knavesmire.

That pair, despite among the entries for tomorrow's £140,000 showpiece, sponsored by Emirates Airline, were not declared, which means that O'Brien pins his hopes directly to Honololu.

A Listed-race winner at Limerick last June on only his third start, Honolulu went on to finish an excellent second to Purple Moon in the Ebor Handicap on this course in August before finishing third to Lucarno in the following month's St Leger at Doncaster.

Honolulu looks the type of horse to thrive in the staying division this year. He is napped to come good tomorrow at the first time of asking.

Darlington trainer Michael Dods has a progessive sprinter in Marvellous Value, who is fancied to complete a hat-trick of wins in the Axis Intermodal Handicap.

Successful on his debut at Catterick, the three-year-old followed up in handicap company at Haydock. Clearly going the right way, he should be hard to beat again.

Westow trainer Paul Midgley has a useful juvenile in Dispol Kylie, who goes for her third win in as many starts in the opening Marygate Stakes, sponsored by Langleys Solicitors.

Successful at Thirsk and Doncaster, Dispol Kylie faces a steep rise in class in this Listed event, but she is clearly speedy and streetwise and those qualities should stand her in good stead.

Richard Fahey drew a blank on the opening day of the York meeting, but the Malton trainer has good prospects of a winner with Wyatt Earp in the Sporting Index Handicap.

Winner of the corresponding race 12 months ago, Wyatt Earp is a three-times winner on Knavesmire. A recent run at Beverley should have knocked the cobwebs off him and a a bold challenge is anticipated in an, admittedly, warm handicap.

Tom Tate, based near Tadcaster, is another North Yorkshire trainer with good prospects of putting his name on the scoreboard.

Tate saddles Laterly in the Phil Benest Handicap and the three-year-old, who finished a good third on his comeback race at Redcar, will benefit from tomorrow's extra two furlongs.

Tate's horses are in fine form at a present, a fact underlined by him having two winners at last week's high-profile Chester meeting.

Racing selections

York (tomorrow)
1.40 Dispol Kylie, 2.10 Watamu, 2.40 Honolulu (NAP), 3.10 Makaaseb, 3.45 Marvellous Value, 4.20 Wyatt Earp, 4.55 Laterly.

Tomorrow's other meetings:
Newmarket, Newcastle, Newbury, Hamilton, Aintree.

York (today)
1.40 Fantasy Explorer, 2.10 Promising Lead (NAP), 2.40 Twice Over, 3.10 Lang Shining, 3.45 Charlie Farnsbarns, 4.20 Awinnersgame, 4.55 Mighty Moon.

Today's other meetings:
Folkestone, Ludlow, Newmarket, Perth, Salisbury.