Manifest impressive in Yorkshire Cup Yeats' retirement last summer threw the staying division wide open and Henry Cecil's Manifest charged into the picture to take over his Ascot Gold Cup crown with a resounding success in the Emirates Airline Yorkshire Cup. Henry Cecil had already enjoyed a gratifying week on the Knavesmire with Aviate landing the Musidora Stakes, and Manifest assumed Gold Cup favouritism with his eight-length romp under Tom Queally. The quick underfoot conditions claimed the presence of favourite Kite Wood as well as two others runners, reducing the field to just five, but it would be hard to envisage any other result even if the field had stood up. The lightly-raced Manifest, who took a maiden on the July course by 19 lengths last summer, had been described as "backward" by the resurgent Cecil but has evidently blossomed through the winter. Although beaten by the high-class Harbinger on his return last month, the four-year-old was not without supporters and Cecil's fans sent him off the 13-8 favourite. The Prince Khalid Abdullah-owned son of Rainbow Quest kicked for home over two furlongs out and poured it on in front. Queally had the pleasurable task of easing his mount down close to the line and they coasted past the post with consummate ease from market rival Purple Moon. Cecil took the Gold Cup for four consecutive years from 1979 onwards with Le Moss and Ardross both scoring twice, and Manifest is just 5-1 with totesport for this year's renewal. Paddy Power and William Hill both have him at the head of their market at 6-1 with Sky Bet offering 7-1 and Victor Chandler a stand-out 8-1. Cecil said: "I love Cup horses and he could just make into a nice one. I hope he will turn out OK. "He did it well and quickened away nicely. I was slightly worried about the ground and that is as fast as he would want it. "He is an improving horse and it is now up to the Prince if he runs in the Gold Cup. "I have been spoiled in the race in the past and I would like to do it again." Abdullah's racing manager, Teddy Grimthorpe, added: "I am sure the Prince would want to run in the Gold Cup. In fact, I am sure he will be more than keen." Queally said: "He did it very well. He ran a hell of a race in the John Porter and Harbinger has gone on to frank the form. I'm delighted with the performance. "All our horses have improved between 5lb and 7lb for a run. He's no different and no exception to the rule. "I think he stays quite well, he certainly wasn't stopping there. "He just takes a little bit of time to go up through the gears. Once he reaches that top gear he is something to be reckoned with." Earlier Principal Role attracted a flurry of quotes for the Oaks after nailing Fatanah in the final stride of the Swettenham Stud Fillies' Trial at Newbury, giving Henry Cecil an embarrassment of riches for the fillies' Classic. Eddie Ahern's mount ranged up to challenge the pacemaking Fatanah well over a furlong out and the pair had it to themselves after that, with Principal Role inching ahead right on the jamstick. Boylesports cut the winner from 16-1 to 12-1 for Epsom, but Cecil can also call on Timepiece and Musidora heroine Aviate in that event and Principal Role is interestingly also entered in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot. Cecil's assistant Michael Marshall said: "This throws it right open with our fillies. "The first two had the run of it from the front but came right away. She's a quirky character but behaved well and got home at the right time." Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to winning owner Prince Khalid Abdullah, was at York to witness the Yorkshire Cup success of Cecil's Manifest, but was pleased with Principal Role's performance. He said: "She's battled away and it's a great result. "It did look like she would stay and it's a very pleasant state of affairs."
