Wednesday 13th May 2026
The Dante Festival at York takes centre stage this week, and the action gets underway on Wednesday. The first of my four selections on the opening day comes within the 2.20, and this is a Class 2 handicap over a mile and four furlongs. I’m fairly strong on the chances of the William Haggas-trained KLASSLEADER here, who’s the mount of Tom Marquand. He’s a progressive four-year-old who came on markedly throughout last term, progressing from his debut run at Sandown to finish a neck second of ten at Doncaster behind Gran Descans, before winning a novice event at Ffos Lass by three and three-quarters of a length. He then stepped up his form again to finish three-quarters of a length second of six on handicap debut at Haydock in September, behind the reopposing Sing Us A Song. Haggas has plenty of success at this track, and this looks like a typically progressive type for the yard. He could prove a fair bit better than his current mark.
My second selection of the afternoon comes within the next race, and this is the 2.55, a Class 2 handicap over six furlongs. This is another extremely competitive affair; however, I think that William Haggas could hold the key again, this time with BINHAREER, who’s another ride for Tom Marquand. He’s another progressive four-year-old, who signed off his last campaign last year with a win over course and distance, when taking out the nineteen-runner Coral Sprint Trophy by two and three-quarters of a length. That particular contest is another highly competitive affair. He’s up ten pounds for that success; however, he could prove to be a group performer in time, and if he turns up in the same form, he could prove tough to beat. The yard is currently operating at a solid strike-rate of 26% at the time of writing, and this Dark Angel gelding should be bang there at the business end of things.
Moving on to the 4.05 now for my third selection, and this is Group 3 action in the Musidora Stakes for the fillies over a mile and two and a half furlongs. This is my best bet of the day, and comes in the form of LEGACY LINK, for the team of John & Thady Gosden, and the mount of Juddmonte’s retained rider Colin Keane. This three-year-old Dubawi filly is the top-rated in this affair, and she should have plenty more to offer for a yard that has been known for its top-class fillies over the years. They also have a good record in the race, winning it recently in 2022 and 2023 with the likes of Emily Upjohn and Soul Sister. This particular filly won her novice at Haydock in September. Then she followed up with a very respectable effort when finishing fourth of ten behind Precise in the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket when she was last seen in October, which is the best form on offer here. She’s entered in both English & Irish Oaks, as well as the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. A bold showing would be no surprise.
The fourth and final selection of the first day of the Dante Festival for me comes within the 4.40, and this is the Class 3 handicap over a distance of seven furlongs. The winning machine that is Al Najashi will be popular here with the punters; however, I’ve tried to take him on, and I’ve done that with HASBRO MARKET for the team of David O’Meara and Danny Tudhope. He’s a novice winner, as well as finishing runner-up in his other two outings within novice and maiden company, and posted a highly encouraing effort on his handicap debut on seasonal reppearance at Wetherby last month, finishing second of eleven, and just a length behind the eventual winner Passing Thought. He still looked as though he was learning on the job that day, as he was wandering around in the closing stages, suggesting that he should be a lot more tuned up here, with further progression likely. He has to be considered as a significant player off a three-pound higher mark.
York Selections
Dante Festival (Day 1)
2.20 York
KLASSLEADER – (3/1) (Win) (NB)
2.55 York
BINHAREER – (13/2) (Each-Way) (5 places)
4.05 York
LEGACY LINK – (11/8) (Win) (NAP)
4.40 York
HASBRO MARKET – (6/1) (Each-Way) (5 places)
