Fal first for Nicholls

David Nicholls has his team in good form and he wasted no time in adding to his score when Falasteen gained a convincing success in the opening Acturis EBF Maiden Stakes at York.

Trade Secret, who was having his fourth outing, was soon up there making the running and well though he stuck top his task, Falasteen (6-1), who was making his racecourse debut, collared him at the furlong marker and strode away to pass the post with three and a half lengths to spare.

Nicholls said: "He will be a nice horse one day but he is a bit of a mule in the stalls - we took him to Thirsk the other day but he would not go in.

"The way he finished he will nearly go six furlongs so we will see."

John Quinn's two stable jockeys are suspended but he found a very able deputy in apprentice Frederik Tylicki who gave Prince Evelith a fine ride to win the Blue Square Casino Stakes.

Tylicki produced the 8-1 chance with a good run on the rails to strike the front two furlongs out and he burst clear to score by four and a half lengths from the top weight Admiral Dundas.

Quinn said: "He is going to take a hike now (in the ratings) so I am glad I have got him in at Ripon on Wednesday and he will run there under a penalty.

"Graham (Gibbons) and Jamie (Kyne) are suspended so I had to find another good lad and Freddie rode the horse well - when you have a good apprentice claiming 5lb on your side it is like a penalty kick."

Willie Muir's late decision to send Nemo Spirit to York paid a winning dividend in the £17,000 (€19,984) Blue Square Stakes.

William Buick had the ride and he clearly had no doubts about Nemo Spirit's stamina and sent him to the front from the outset in the two-mile test.

It looked a bit worrying for his supporters, however, when Hawk Mountain loomed up to challenge but Nemo Spirit is nothing if not game and kept on finding more for Buick to hold the challenger at bay by three-quarters of a length.

Muir's representative Jonathan Jannaway said: "William was in two minds about running him, but he likes this ground (good to soft) and that is why we came here rather than go to Royal Ascot on Tuesday.

"He does need to get his toe in and I walked the course this morning and thought it was nearly soft so we were happy about that and if the ground is suitable he could run in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle."