HALF GLANCE is definitely worth a second look in this afternoon's feature race at York, the £50,000 Group 3 Musidora Stakes.

With only five runners in the extended mile-and-a-quarter line-up punters might easily be lured into thinking it's an easy contest to size up. But nothing could be further from the truth since not one of the quintet can be dismissed with any sort of confidence.

And if Half Glance is to claim an inaugural Group success, she has to overcome the current Oaks favourite, Islington, ridden by the reigning champion jockey, Kieran Fallon.

Comparing the form of the duo is hard because Islington's sole win to date was a hard-fought victory in a ten furlong maiden at Newbury, whereas Half Glance has been taking on far stronger company, notably when third in the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket last time out.

Maybe Islington's pedigree - she's a full sister to the high-class middle-distance winner Greek Dance - has influenced the ante-post market. Nonetheless according to my calculations she still has it all to prove, whereas Half Glance (2.55) has the form in the book, not to mention the fact that Henry Cecil is simply mustard when it comes to training fillies.

The star-studded three-day meeting on the Knavesmire gets underway with the £25,000 Newton Investment Management Handicap.

Plenty of southern raiders take their chance, however, there's every chance that two northern challengers will fight out the finish, Systematic and Derwent (1.55), both of whom are trained at Middleham.

Preference is marginally for James Bethell's charge Derwent, badly in need of the outing when third in maiden company at Pontefract on his seasonal return.

The Distant View colt is bound to have come on a ton for that run, and even more interestingly the filly which finished just in front of him last season at Newcastle, Dolores, ran a blinder to grab 4th spot in the 1000 Guineas earlier this month.

In the following seven furlong Showcase Handicap any further easing of the ground is bound to suit White Rabbit (2.25).

Tim Easterby's three-year-old showed a definite liking for a rain-softened surface last term and in addition lacks for nothing in the consistency department. There was certainly plenty to like about her 4th placing in the recent Thirsk Classic trial, form that has worked out exceptionally well.

The mile-and-a-half Simon Storage Handicap has attracted the largest field of the day with 16 runners facing the starter.

It's a wide-open race and the selection, Gralmano (4.00), can only be an each-way recommendation. Trainer Kevin Ryan's horses have been in great fettle, a trend continued at Wolverhampton yesterday by Gaelic Princess, who incidentally was bred by Gillian and Niall Quinn.

Gralmano gets the nod on two counts. Firstly he has enjoyed a terrific winter/spring campaign over timber, winning three on the bounce before going down by a head in the valuable Swinton Hurdle at Haydock.

Secondly, Gralmano's turf rating has plummeted to an extremely favourable mark after a string of disappointing efforts during 2001 when Ryan's stable was palpably under a cloud.

Not too much to get excited about over the sticks at Hereford, although the fact that Ferdy Murphy is sending Lucky Time (1.40) all the way down to the track from North Yorkshire suggests he's the one to have the money on in the opening Maiden Chase.

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