Duke Of York Preview

Champion trainer Richard Hannon is doubly represented in the Duke Of York totepool Stakes on the Knavesmire with Libranno and Elnawin. Libranno made his reappearance this season over a mile in heavy ground and is expected to be much better suited by conditions on his return to sprinting. "It was barely raceable at Sandown, where Libranno disappointed last time, but we know he is better than that and six furlongs suits him as well as seven," said Richard Hannon jnr on www.richardhannonracing.tv. "Elnawin has been off with injury since he won by eight lengths at Salisbury last June, and he will probably need this comeback race." Richard Fahey has always thought highly of Mayson and the four-year-old is now finally starting to deliver on his promise. After finishing third behind The Cheka at Doncaster on his reappearance he was a good winner of the Abernant Stakes at the Craven meeting and he returned to Headquarters last time out. Dropping down to five furlongs for the Palace House Stakes, he showed good speed from a bad draw to win again. Fahey said: "He's in great order at the moment and he knows how to win now. He's progressing the right way, he's won a Listed race, a Group Three and now he's in a Group Two. "The ground should be fine, he goes on anything. He seems as effective over five furlongs or six, but if I had a choice I think he's better over six. He's in both races at Ascot, but we'll get this out of the way first." Godolphin's ex-Australian Soul is an interesting contender. He won at the Dubai Carnival in handicap company, but made no show on World Cup night in the Golden Shaheen. Saeed bin Suroor told www.godolphin.com: "Soul won very well on his first start of the year in Dubai, but then was disappointing in the Golden Shaheen. He looks in good form at the moment and has been working nicely. The return to turf should suit him and I am looking for a better result this time."

News From Ballydoyle

Aidan O'Brien has warned Ernest Hemingway will only run in Thursday's Betfred Dante Stakes at York if conditions are deemed suitable. The Galileo colt won by 10 lengths on his only start to date at Dundalk and is a best priced 25-1 for the Investec Derby at Epsom next month. He is due to test his credentials in the recognised trial on the Knavesmire on Thursday, but his participation is ground dependant. Speaking at a press morning at Ballydoyle, O'Brien said: "Ernest Hemingway is in the Dante, but he would only go to York if the ground was good or better. It is doubtful he would go to Epsom if he misses York."

He is confident Camelot will not lack for stamina when he bids to follow up his 2000 Guineas triumph in the Investec Derby at Epsom. The son of Montjeu rounded off his juvenile campaign with a superb performance in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster and he made a winning return when coming from last to first in the season's opening Classic at Newmarket. "Being by Montjeu, you would have to be optimistic that he will stay, but there are also serious Danehill and Kingmambo traits in Camelot, and he has always been a horse with tremendous speed. However, I have not seen anything to suggest that he will not stay the trip at Epsom, but we won't find out until the day," said O'Brien at a press open day. The Ballydoyle handler admits his charge has other questions to answer, namely how he will handle Epsom's undulations and if his nerves will stand up pre-race.

He also admits his son Joseph was lucky to escape serious injury after parting company with the ill-fated Furner's Green in Sunday's French 2000 Guineas at Longchamp. The three-year-old flew home under the young rider to claim third in the Poule D'Essai Des Poulains, but broke a leg shortly after the line. The young rider came out of the saddle but was unscathed. "It could all have ended in disaster in the French Guineas on Sunday when Furner's Green took a fatal fall passing the winning post," said the trainer. "We were all so very sad for the horse, but Joseph was so very lucky. "If it had happened a furlong earlier, three or four horses could easily have trampled all over him and he could have been seriously hurt as they were travelling flat out."

Musidora Preview

John Gosden's 1000 Guineas fourth The Fugue faces five rivals in the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes at York on Wednesday. The daughter of Dansili finished off well to pick up minor honours in the Newmarket Classic and she now tries her hand over 10 furlongs in this recognised trial for the Investec Oaks at Epsom next month. The Fugue's major rival in the Group Three contest appears to be Aidan O'Brien's Twirl, who was narrowly beaten by subsequent winner Chrysanthemum on her first start of the year at the Curragh in March. Richard Hannon's Nell Gwyn winner Esentepe needs to bounce back to form after finishing last at Goodwood, while Good Morning Star is turned out again quickly following her shock win in last week's Cheshire Oaks. Aniseed and Salford Art complete the line-up.

Dunlop Debates

Ed Dunlop is weighing up the options for his luckless sprinter Burwaaz. Although the three-year-old has registered only one victory from nine career starts, he has been placed on a further six occasions. He did well to finish third at Kempton on his return to action at the start of this month after things conspired against him, and Dunlop hopes his day will come soon.

"He's in the Duke Of York Stakes on Wednesday and he's going to be entered in the Carnarvon Stakes at Newbury on Friday. The ground is quite important," said the trainer. "On his last run at Kempton, the bit went through his mouth and he did fantastically well to finish third. "We'll wait and see what the ground does, but it would nice to see him win, as he deserves it. He was the bridesmaid sprinter last year, but we're pretty adamant he's improved." Stablemate Red Cadeaux is on target for Friday's Sportingbet Yorkshire Cup after finishing second in the rearranged Sagaro Stakes at Kempton last time. Having been beaten a nose in the Melbourne Cup before finishing third in the Hong Kong Vase last year, he is another horse who deserves success. Dunlop added: "All being well he'll run in the Yorkshire Cup. He won't run on firm ground, but I don't think we're going to get that."

Definitely Definightly

Roger Charlton will rely on Definightly in Wednesday's Duke of York totepool Stakes after deciding not to run Bated Breath and Genki. The Beckhampton handler had the choice of running all three in the six-furlong Group Two event with Group One-placed Bated Breath the highest rated of all the entries, but with the ground at York currently reported to be on the easy side, Charlton has opted to bypass the race as both Bated Breath and Genki prefer a quicker surface. Charlton tweeted: "Bated Breath and Genki to miss York to await faster ground but Definightly declared and would like more rain if possible!" Definightly is one of 14 declared runners, with Richard Fahey's Mayson heading the betting following successive victories at Newmarket.

Rain, Rain Go Away!

Tuesday's meeting at Newcastle has been abandoned due to a waterlogged track. A total of 150 millimetres of rain fell at the course in April, leaving the ground waterlogged and unraceable in places. Further rain is forecast over the weekend, so clerk of the course James Armstrong has made an early decision to call off the fixture. He said: "We had a look and we had our course inspector here and we are still a long way off being raceable. "We've got a forecast of further rain, upwards of another half an inch, in the next two or three days. We are fighting a losing battle." The British Horseracing Authority has announced an additional fixture at Southwell to fill the gap. Warwick's fixture on Bank Holiday Monday is subject to an 8.30am inspection on Saturday. The course is waterlogged in places following 103 millimetres of rainfall throughout April and the situation was compounded by further 16mm of rain on Thursday. Clerk of the course Sulekha Varma said: "The situation has gradually deteriorated as the week has gone on. Thursday's rain has left us in an unraceable state, with large areas of false ground and some waterlogging. "If there is some improvement on Saturday morning, we might look again on Sunday, but it's not looking great."

2000 Guineas Preview

French trainer Nicolas Clement is looking to improve his curious record in England when the Criterium International winner French Fifteen runs in the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. The colt, who will be ridden by Olivier Peslier, beat the other French raiders Abtaal and Hermival in the Prix Djebel at Maisons-Laffitte last month. Although Clement saddled the classy Stormy River to finish second in the St James's Palace Stakes in 2006, his only win in the UK came on a less grander scale - in a Catterick bumper. The French trainer said: "He is all ready to go and he worked nicely on Monday. I don't think he wants extremes of going - not too yielding and not too fast, but if it is just on the soft side of good that will be fine for him. We will see if handles the track. He has performed well on a straight course before, so hopefully he will do well. "He has done really well since the Prix Djebel and I think he has improved a bit too, so I am very happy. He has experience and he has fitness, so it is very exciting. It would be fantastic for the owner, who sponsors the race. He bought the colt during the winter. "I have not had many runners in Britain. Stormy River was second to Araafa in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. The only winner I have had in Britain was in a Catterick bumper! It would be fantastic to win the Guineas. If the horse finishes in the first four, I'll be happy." John Gosden is under no illusions as to the task facing Fencing, who took a Listed race in fine style at Newbury in August but was left trailing behind Camelot in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster. The handler said: "He was meant to run in the Craven, but he got a puncture in his foot which meant he was unable to run. That has put us on the back foot a little, but you need to get these horses out. Obviously, it is not ideal. He needs a race and you have to start the season somewhere. "Realistically he needs to improve a good deal to turn the tables with the favourite from Doncaster and it wasn't the plan to come here without a run. He was well held at Doncaster, but he won't mind the ground."

Roger Charlton admits Top Offer will need to show "considerable" improvement if he is to win the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. The once-raced colt was an impressive winner of a Newbury maiden last season, but missed his intended trial in the Greenham Stakes due to very soft ground, and the trainer still harbours doubts about his ability to be seen at his best in those conditions. "Top Offer has been our big hope since last August and finally we are nearly there. He is a wonderful looking colt with great presence and an easy action that may not be suited by the soft ground," said the Beckhampton handler. "He has to show considerable improvement from his easy maiden victory last August at Newbury. It looks competitive, as you would expect, with three good colts from France and three from Ireland in the field. "His work has been good but we won't know until we try as to whether he is quite up to this class, but I am sure he is a Group horse," he told his website, www.rogercharlton.com. Aidan O'Brien insists he has not "forced" Camelot to be ready in time for the race. The eclipse of St Nicholas Abbey two years ago is still a raw memory for the Ballydoyle team and they admit it took him a good year to get over those exertions. With Camelot by the same sire in Montjeu, and having followed the Racing Post Trophy route, comparison has been drawn, but while O'Brien was reluctant to commit the unbeaten colt to the Classic until only recently, the last few weeks have seen him discuss his chances in a far more bullish mode.