Fugue is not A minor player

John Gosden’s filly was having just her third start having run a respectable fourth in the 1,000 Guineas ten days earlier. She was struck into on that occasion but, thankfully, the damage was only superficial, allowing her wound to heal in time for her to gain valuable experience in the recognised Oaks trial.

However, all the pre-race talk was of Aidan O’Brien’s Twirl, one of a strong contingent of Classic fillies from Ballydoyle this season. Twirl ended up being sent off the 5-6 favourite allowing The Fugue to start at odds of 15-8 but William Buick was sitting pretty at the two-furlong marker while Joseph O’Brien was already asking his mount to quicken. When Buick pressed the button, The Fugue stretched four and a half lengths clear and is now 7-2 favourite (from 12-1) with Coral for the Classic. Betfred and Boylesports are biggest at 5s.

“The better ground has made a big difference to her,” said Gosden. “She’s a lovely filly and she was unlucky in the Guineas when she was struck into. All being well she’ll run at Epsom now, but she wouldn’t want it soft. In case it is, we’ll also leave her in the French Oaks.”

Kevin Ryan was over the moon after saddling Tiddliwinks to a 25-1 surprise success in the Duke of York totepool Stakes. The winner races in Yorkshireman Guy Reed’s famous pink, yellow and black silks and he was only beaten a length into third 12 months ago.

His stablemate Bogart made a bold bid from the front and ended up fourth while The Cheka and Society Rock made late ground, but Jamie Spencer stole the race a furlong out.

Secret Witness is set to turn out again 24 hours later after his win in the William Birch & Sons Construction Stakes. The 14-1 shot burst clear under James Doyle and held on by half a length from Baby Strange and Fast Shot.

Trainer Ron Harris said: “He loved the ground and he’s come on a lot from his run the other day. He’ll run again tomorrow – there’s no reason why not.”

Gosden and Buick had earlier won the Infinity Tyres Stakes with Gatewood (13-2). “He had a harder race than I would have wanted. It was his first run after a long break,” said Gosden. “He wandered a bit, but I hope there’s a bit more to come.”

Marcus Tregoning had a welcome winner when Mulaqen (8-1) ran away with the Constant Security Stakes under Hanagan.

Declan Carroll’s Lastchancelucas was a 100-1 winner on debut two weeks ago at Pontefract and followed up at 8-1 in the ripleycollection.com EBF Novice Stakes, while Hanagan doubled on for his old boss Richard Fahey on the well-backed 5-1 favourite Baccarat in the McArthurglen’s York Designer Outlet Stakes.

Perth

2.20 Cause Of Causes

2.50 Degas Art

3.20 Long Distance

3.55 Sotovik

4.30 Dr Flynn

5.05 Groovy Dancer

5.40 Separate Shadows

York

1.30 Swiss Franc

2.00 Sajjhaa

2.30 Fencing

3.00 Justonefortheroad

3.35 Pearl Secret

4.10 Funk Soul Brother

4.45 Cloudy Spirit

Salisbury

1.40 Red Halo

2.10 Shestheman

2.40 Ask The Guru

3.10 Daunt

3.45 Sound Hearts

4.20 Wiltshire Life

4.55 Love Tale

5.25 Dancing Welcome

Folkestone

5.45 Behind The Scenes

6.15 It Was Me

6.50 Saddlers Melody

7.25 Swordsman

7.55 Start Royal

8.25 Lepido

Ludlow

5.30 Navajo Nation

6.05 Salomo

6.40 Fairoak Lad

7.15 Island Life

7.45 Gambo

8.15 The Fish Pot

8.45 Vegas Cash

Newmarket

5.20 Senafe

5.55 Burke’s Rock

6.25 Bertoliver

7.00 Morocco

7.35 Circus Mondao

8.05 Fort Bastion

8.35 Chain Of Events

Double

Houston Dynimo

4:30 Perth

Groovy Dancer

5:05 Perth