York races can clear Classic picture Classic clues should be easier to spot when the racing bandwagon crosses the Pennines next week. We are little the wiser about the Derby or the Oaks after Chester`s May meeting - it takes a vivid imagination to see Vase winner Mr Combustible or Cheshire Oaks scorer Rockerlong triumphing at Epsom. But the real big guns are being aimed at York`s three-day fixture which starts on Tuesday. Mr Combustible`s trainer Barry Hills is set to run a more realistic Derby contender in Wednesday`s Dante Stakes - Storming Home. This bonny little colt is bred to be suited by the mile-and-a-half trip of the Derby and he warmed up for York with an emphatic winning reappearance at Epsom itself last month. But he is liable to be outpaced over the extended 10 furlongs of the Dante, particularly on this track which will not suit his come-from-behind style. By contrast, John Dunlop reckons the distance will be ideal for Olden Times - whom he thinks may have difficulty seeing outthe trip in the Derby. The colt showed plenty of speed when contributing to his trainer`s memorable Craven meeting five-timer last month. Prevented by a minor setback from fulfilling the promise of his debut last year, he made up for lost time with a most encouraging comeback victory in the Listed Feilden Stakes on soft ground at Newmarket. The way Olden Times quickened to lead at the furlong-pole marked him out as a class act, and it was lack of experience which meant Pat Eddery had to get serious close home to ensure he held on. 'Pat said he hated the ground,' Dunlop said. 'I don`t know what the form means but it was a good performance and it is great to have him back as he got jarred up after his debut at York last year.' Olden Times could well make a happy return to the Knavesmire next week, in a race his trainer won with eventual Derby second Sakhee last year - plus Classic winners Erhaab and Shirley Heights previously. Tuesday`s Tattersalls Musidora Stakes also offered a big pointer to the Oaks 12 months ago, with winner Kalypso Katie going on to finish second at Epsom. This year all eyes will be on The Queen`s Flight Of Fancy, who is ante-post favourite to give Her Majesty a first Classic victory since Dunfermline took the Oaks and St Leger in 1977. She is bred to be a top-drawer filly, by champion sire Sadler`s Wells out of her owner`s Pattern-race-winning mare Phantom Gold. And she looks a chip off the old block if the way she demolished a field of maidens at Salisbury last August is any guide. Stable-companion Golan went straight from maiden company to lifting the 2000 Guineas and Flight Of Fancy can make a similarly big leap for trainer Sir Michael Stoute on Tuesday. Attention switches from Classic contenders to the older generation on Thursday, with two big trials for Royal Ascot. Last year Godolphin`s Kayf Tara showed he would be the one to beat in the Gold Cup with a top-class effort in theMerewood Homes Yorkshire Cup, giving all his rivals weight and an emphatic beating. It could be the same team`s Give The Slip who lands the spoils this time. He was a game winner of the Tote-Ebor over this course and distance last year, has shown improved form over a mile and a half in Dubai this spring and will be well suited by the return to a stayer`s trip. Primo Valentino already has the look of the season`s best sprinter and he will be hard to beat in the Duke Of York Victor Chandler Stakes. This Group One-winning juvenile has been nursed right back to his best by Peter Harris after a modest three-year-old campaign. He was enormously impressive in the Abernant Stakes at Newmarket last month, showing blistering speed to lead 22 very useful rivals throughout and score with plenty to spare. A return to the highest level is on the cards for the four-year-old, who should take this Group Three event en route. Another to look out for at York on Wednesday is Henry Cecil`s first two-year-old runner of the season Western Verse, who has inherited much of his Oaks-winning dam Reams Of Verse`s ability if gallop reports are any guide.
