Cecil can continue to turn back Time

Henry Cecil’s resurgent fortunes have cheered many a racing fan this term and his renaissance can continue as he takes the wraps off Vodafone Oaks favourite Passage Of Time at York.

The daughter of Dansili faces just four rivals as she bids to get her Classic campaign off to a winning start in the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes.

Passage Of Time improved at a rate of knots last season, breaking her maiden at the second time of asking before stepping up to win a Newmarket Listed contest in a canter.

She easily accounted for tomorrow’s rival Sue’s Surprise that day, stretching clear in the closing stages of the mile contest to show just how well she stays.

The Khalid Abdullah-owned filly then went on to break Cecil’s long Group One barren spell in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud, getting every yard of the 10-furlong trip.

That form bears close inspection given that the runner-up Soldier Of Fortune was a Derby trial winner himself at Chester last week, while the fourth was not beaten far in the French 2000 Guineas at the weekend.

A throat problem has been well documented in recent days, but Cecil would not risk his star if he was at all uncertain about her well-being and she should handle the likely give underfoot.

Rising Shadow is another who relishes some cut and he can give a good account in the Duke Of York Hearthstead Homes Stakes.

David Barron’s charge is something of a soft-ground specialist and is clearly on the upgrade, as he proved towards the end of last term when graduating to Listed company.

The seven-year-old picked up where he left off with a three-quarter length win at Newcastle in March and connections have purposefully kept him fresh for this Group Two event.

Although a big step up in class, the rain has come at the right time for Rising Shadow and he could oblige at a nice price.

Evens And Odds was blatantly outclassed when beating just one home in the 2000 Guineas, but the drop back to handicap company in the Blue Square Stakes can see him come good again.

He looked useful when finishing third in a Listed race on the all-weather, but connections were aiming a little high when pitching him into Classic company.

Evens And Odds races off a mark of 97 on his handicap bow, but is clearly held in some regard and could develop into a decent player in this sphere.

Eve Johnson Houghton has hit the ground running in her first season as a trainer and Hobson can continue the run in Bath’s European Breeders’ Fund And Winning Post Bookmakers Median Auction Maiden Stakes.

She has sent out six winners already this year since taking over the reins from her father Fulke, and Hobson can build on his debut second with victory on slower ground here.

Carapuce can make a winning return from a couple of months off the track in the George Wimpey Handicap Hurdle at Perth.

Carthys Cross is the pick in Fontwell’s Fullers London Pride Beginners’ Chase while at Exeter, Let’s Go Dutch can strike in the Sam Loughridge Diamond Edge Handicap Chase.