York success in-form Dods

Dods, who trains at Denton, near Piercebridge, recorded a 190-1 double at Chester’s May meeting last week, and his fine form continued as 6-1 shot Kaptain Kirkup claimed the York City At Wembley With Blue Square Handicap in fine style.

The three-year-old, who is owned by local osteopath Kevin Kirkup, quickened three-and-a-quarter lengths clear under jockey Tom Eaves.

Dods said: “He has done it well, but I don’t know where we’ll go next. We’ll just see what the handicapper does.

“He’s improving but I think we’ll just stick to seven (furlongs) for the moment.

“I’m not frightened of going a mile but I don’t think we’ll do it yet. Tom said he just got away with the ground - he’d like a bit more juice.”

Kaptain Kirkup, who was entered in this year’s 2,000 Guineas until the first withdrawal stage, was Dods’ third winner from his last five runners, a sequence that also includes successes at Beverley and Newcastle.

Henry Cecil’s Aviate confirmed herself as a genuine Oaks contender as she won a thrilling finish to the Musidora Stakes.

Sent off at 11-4 second favourite following a success at Ascot last month, the filly, who is now as short as 4-1 for Epsom, travelled strongly throughout in the hands of Eddie Ahern but was boxed in behind the leaders heading inside the final two furlongs.

Outsider Gold Bubbles looked the likely winner when striking the front inside the final furlong but, once the gap came, Aviate showed an electric turn of foot to score by a head.

Cecil said: “It looks as if she’ll stay (in the Oaks). I was hopeful she would otherwise I would have run in the race over a mile here later in the week.

“We don’t know if she’ll go to Epsom yet. She’s a nice filly, but you couldn’t see how good she was because she didn’t get a clear run.”

There was something of a surprise in the Group Two Duke Of York Stakes as 20-1 shot Prime Defender held off joint-favourite Showcasing to score by half-a-length.