Madeline edges Fool in Lowther market as ground remains good

Newbury Listed winner Madeline has been installed as the 3-1 favourite by the sponsors – in front of 7-2 shot Happy Like A Fool – for Thursday’s Sky Bet Lowther Stakes at York.

The Roger Varian-trained filly is one of 15 possibles for the Group 2 contest after Friday's forfeit stage, at which impressive Goodwood scorer Threading was supplemented along with Wesley Ward’s Queen Mary Stakes runner-up Happy Like A Fool at a cost of £15,000.

Aidan O’Brien has four entries but Sky Bet believe Actress to be his most likely candidate, quoting the Phoenix Stakes third at 9-2.

Fellow Irish trainer Ken Condon plans to saddle Mamba Noire, who finished third to Clemmie in Newmarket’s Duchess of Cambridge Stakes last month.

Condon said: “She has got a good rating for a two-year-old filly at this stage of the year.

“She put two good runs together behind Clemmie and that Duchess of Cambridge form looks good. Provided she comes back to that, I'm sure she'll give a good account of herself. A strongly-run six furlongs at York could bring the best out of her.”

Thomas Hobson: represents Willie Mullins in the Lonsdale CupCredit: Caroline Norris

Thomas Hobson, winner of the Ascot Stakes at the royal meeting in June, where he also ran second in the Queen Alexandra Stakes, will represent Willie Mullins in the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup at York on Friday.

Mullins, who won the Group 2 event with Max Dynamite two years ago, said: "Thomas Hobson hasn't run since Ascot but he seems in good form and the plan is to run him in the Lonsdale Cup."

Ivan Grozny, who was favourite for the Betfred Ebor a year ago before being withdrawn lame on the day before the race, is under consideration for this year's renewal next Saturday.

"We have a few in the Ebor and plans won't be finalised until early next week, but it's quite possible Ivan Grozny will run," Mullins said.

Ground update

The ground at York remained good on Friday following a sharp shower in the afternoon. No watering has taken place in August, with a higher than average amount of rainfall recorded.

Anthea Morshead, assistant clerk of the course, said: “It’s been a wet August. We’ve had 51.8mm of rain so far, which is more than the usual total for the entire month. The course has had a good soaking.

“The ground is still good after we got 0.6mm in a short, sharp shower this afternoon. Apart from that it’s been generally a dry, bright and breezy day.

“The forecast is for a mainly dry weekend, with the risk of showers on Monday and Tuesday, before we move towards what looks at this stage like being a more settled pattern of weather through the meeting.”