Yorkshire may be the `dark horse'

THE leading Derby contenders lay their cards on the table in the Group Two Grosvenor Casinos Dante Stakes at York today.

Royal Lodge winner Benny The Dip, Godolphin's Racing Post Trophy victor Medaaly and Desert Story from Michael Stoute's all-conquering yard will all be well supported in the ring.

But it may pay to side with the relatively inexperienced and somewhat unexposed Yorkshire from Paul Cole's stable.

Backed into 12-1 from double those odds for the Blue Riband in recent weeks, the son of 1991 Derby winner Generous is the "dark horse" in the ante-post lists.

The colt made an impressive start to his career on his only outing, over a mile at Salisbury in October.

Always prominent, he led on the bit three furlongs out and was ridden clear to win by seven lengths from Nordic Crest.

Yorkshire, who has reportedly done well during the winter, can show the necessary improvement to land this £80,000-added event at the expense of better-fancied rivals.

Best bet of the day on the Knavesmire looks to be Bishops Court in the Grosvenor Casinos Leeds Sprint, following an impressive display at Chester last week.

Over six furlongs on the Roodeye, Lynda Ramsden's promising youngster was never off the bridle to beat Double-J by two lengths in.a common canter.

Dropped back to five tomorrow, thought by connections to be the gelding's best trip, Bishops Court is napped to defy a 6lb penalty with every likelihood of being chased home by stablemate Surprise Mission and the visored Lago di Varano.

Peter Chapple-Hyam's horses are in good form and his Musick House has good prospects of winning the Grosvenor Casinos Hambleton Rated Stakes over a mile.

Highly tried last season, the Sadler's Wells colt reappeared in a seven-furlong handicap at Haydock last week and gave a good account of himself to finish third, beaten two and a half lengths and one and a quarter behind Craigievar and Ramooz.