Knavesmire return is a reason to smile but rain worries Gosden

There are many excellent reasons for Yorkshire to be considered a truly special place.

One particularly fine reason is its flagship racecourse, which reopens its doors for a three-day fixture that invariably proves not only enjoyable but also informative. On day one of the Dante meeting, the enjoyable could outweigh the informative.

Thursday's Betfred Dante Stakes seems likely to trigger significant revisions to the Derby market, with Britain's perceived leading hope Cracksman taking on Sir Michael Stoute's ante-post plunge Crystal Ocean, Ballydoyle's Exemplar and, thanks to Godolphin, more hopefuls parading in blue than one would find in the affluent Tory heartland of leafy Surrey.

First, though, we have the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes, a marker for Epsom that, compared to others staged in recent days, is something of an anomaly.

For a start, York's racegoers will experience a trial that contains not a single candidate trained by Aidan O'Brien. In local parlance, this merits an ecky thump.

France a powerful lure for Shutter team

On top of that, the connections of the long odds-on favourite have already given the clearest possible indication their filly's likely Classic target will not be at Epsom but Chantilly. Trigger another ecky thump.

Shutter Speed looked a top-notch prospect at NewburyCredit: Mark Cranham

The filly in question, Shutter Speed, heads to York with both John Gosden (seeking a fifth Musidora success in the last seven years) and Khalid Abdullah's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe having pointed to doubts about the impressive Newbury winner's capacity to excel over a mile and a half as the reason why the Prix de Diane is currently preferred to the Investec Oaks.

Owner and trainer also boast Shutter Speed's Newbury victim Enable, subsequently triumphant in the Cheshire Oaks and firmly on course for Epsom. For that reason, Enable can be backed at no more than 5-1 for the Oaks, whereas Shutter Speed is available at 7-1.

That said, we may not see Shutter Speed at all. The weather has intervened. It could yet intervene some more.

As a county, Yorkshire is not necessarily unfamiliar to spells of sudden or sustained precipitation. This is remarkably good for the rhubarb but, as Gosden pointed out on Tuesday, less attractive to a filly sired by Dansili out of an Oasis Dream mare.

Rain has fallen at York in recent days - and more is expectedCredit: Alan Crowhurst

For that reason, the unexpectedly heavy rain that struck the Knavesmire across Sunday and Monday, with more now set to fall on York's opening day, has placed a question mark over the participation of Shutter Speed, while it could very well impact on the big races later in the week.

The two-start record of Frankie Dettori's intended mount includes a Yarmouth maiden win on soft ground. Gosden does not, though, believe that represents her "favourite" surface and will therefore walk the track before racing.

If she becomes a non-runner, the Musidora will be reduced to four starters, only two of whom, Serenada and Vintage Folly, are entered in the Oaks. Both are 50-1 shots for the Classic.

The Jim Bolger-trained Vociferous Marina is entered in an Oaks next month, but it's the Munster Oaks at Cork, a race you rarely heard mentioned on a May afternoon in York's winner's enclosure.

A right royal line-up for the Duke of York

The richest prize on the card comes 35 minutes before the Musidora, with a tip-top field declared to contest the £125,000 Duke of York Clipper Logistics Stakes.

Magical Memory was victorious under Frankie Dettori 12 months ago and will seek to secure a repeat imprint on the roll of honour. This, however, is a Group 2 feature that will take some winning.

The first three home from last year's British Champions Sprint assemble once again. The Tin Man, who got the glory on that autumn afternoon, has a 5lb penalty but also the potential to improve further. He could therefore yet confirm the form with Ascot runner-up Growl and third home Brando, whose readiness for this test is assured thanks to a pleasing reappearance in the Abernant Stakes.

The locals love York's hot handicaps

No York card is complete without a plethora of punting puzzles. The four handicaps that, together with a juveniles' heat, make up the card will definitely provide them.

What cannot be disputed is William Derby and his racecourse team love to programme sprint handicaps. What also cannot be disputed is the local trainers love to support them.

As one would expect, the 6f dash, one of four races to be shown on ITV4, attracted a maximum 20-runner field. Of the 20 horses, 17 are trained in Yorkshire. That makes this an almost entirely white rose affair.

Cue another ecky thump.

York card and form