Send him to Coventry

8:49am Friday 16th May 2008

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KARL Burke is hoping he has a Royal Ascot runner on his hands following Lord Shanakill's easy victory in the Constant Security EBF Maiden Stakes at York Racecourse.

The Leyburn-based trainer watched his two-year-old, ridden by Fergus Sweeney, hit the front early in the six-furlong contest and ease away from the field on his way to a near three-length win over 6-4 favourite Awinnersgame.

Burke targeted the Coventry Stakes at the Berkshire festival for his Keeneland-bought colt and said he's got high hopes.

"He's a nice horse. He's improved a hell of a lot. He's been working very, very well. He's the first horse we bought from Keeneland last year and he's from a lovely family - a real Group winning family," he said.

"The Coventry (at Royal Ascot) is the obvious one and we'll just see how the form of the race works out. If he was going to go there I doubt whether he would run again before then because he's still developing."

Following a disappointing opening day, Burke's win was one of the highlights of a North Yorkshire treble.

It began in the very first race of York's second stanza - Tournedos bringing home the bacon for Thirsk's David Nicholls in a superb Enter The Flat totetentofollow Stakes.

Any of half-a-dozen of the 11-strong field had major claims as they entered the final furlong but it was Nicholls' six-year-old who had the engine to power through in the final few yards ahead of River Falcon (15-2) and 9-2 favourite Bertoliver.

At 33-1, it stunned punters and a fast time of 58.46 seconds, almost a full second ahead of the race average, also surprised Nicholls, who confirmed the gelding would contest the Epsom Dash.

"It's quick that," he said. "He's been a good horse in his day. I've had him 18 months. I've always liked him. He's had an operation on his wind, which wasn't helping him last year and we got that put right.

"It was a fair performance. He'll go straight to the Dash."

Musley Bank-based Richard Fahey also left Knavesmire happy after Mighty Moon (15-2) took the final theripleycollection.com Stakes.

"It's nice to have a winner," he said. "He was bought to go to Galway and that's where he'll probably go next time. There's a two-mile race for him in Galway."

Elsewhere, Promising Lead (2-5 fav) justified his heavy favouritism in the totepoolscoop6 Special Middleton Stakes.

Jockey Ryan Moore's charge moved stylishly to take the lead at the two-furlong pole and, after resisting a brief challenge from Under The Rainbow (8-1), strode away to a four-length success.

Mia's Boy fought courageously to win the Bank Of Scotland Corporate Hambleton Stakes.

With a furlong left to travel, it looked like Lang Shining's fleet turn of foot would be enough to take the spoils but the 15-2 chance reeled in the 8-11 favourite and denied Moore a hat-trick after his Dante success.

And, on a day of tight finishes, Frankie Dettori also notched up a winner with Charlie Farnsbarns (3-1) in the Ralph Raper Memorial Stakes.