Choir holds off Tac in Yorkshire Cup

Gospel Choir justified favouritism when edging out chief market rival Tac De Boistron in the Sky Bet Yorkshire Cup at York.

Winner of the Jockey Club Stakes last time out, Sir Michael Stoute's five-year-old was stepping up in trip under the unstoppable Ryan Moore and was sent off at 7-2.

Moore was keen not to hit the front too early and plenty held chances with a furlong to run, but Gospel Choir took over and went a length clear. Tac De Boistron, racing on ground faster than he prefers and over a trip short of his best, came from out of the pack and was closing with every stride to get to within a neck. It was a further half-length to Tiger Cliff.

Moore said: "I'm not sure he wants a mile and six really, but he was good enough today."

Stoute added: "He's a very admirable, competitive horse, he sticks his neck out and doesn't like to get beaten. Ryan had doubts about the trip and he gave him a very good ride. That was a very good horse he's beaten, albeit he was getting 4lb from him. What's very important to him is the ground, he doesn't want bad ground.

"I would think the Hardwicke would be favourite. We've got some options, he's versatile, he ran very well in the Earl Of Sefton over nine furlongs."

Tac De Boistron's trainer Marco Botti said: "I think the drying ground and the drop in trip were not ideal, but we have to be very, very happy.

"The Gold Cup is the priority, but we would want cut in the ground, ideally. There is also the Irish St Leger later in the season and then back to France for the Cadran and the Royal-Oak."

Stoute and Moore were completing a double initiated by Arab Spring, who will report for duty at Royal Ascot after he just about vindicated 13-8 favouritism in the sportingbet.com Jorvik Stakes.

Unbeaten in two previous starts this term, the four-year-old son of Monsun looked set to win handsomely once Moore bustled him into the lead a furlong and a half from home, but Duke Of Clarence suddenly charged into contention for the Richard Fahey team and only went down by a diminishing half a length.

Stoute said: "I was very pleased, but he's a big baby boy and needs to grow up. He's so lightly raced and that (a mile and a half) is as far as he wants to go. He'll go for an Ascot race. He's in the Hardwicke, but it's whether we want to step him up. There's also the Duke Of Edinburgh and the Wolferton."