IT'S the first day of York's Dante meeting and I'm in a quandry.

After hearing good news of Henry Cecil's Diescentric from the Newmarket gallops a few weeeks ago, that was going to be my best bet today.

Now, I've just heard that John Gosden's Taqleed (probable favourite) put in a mighty prep with the stable's highly-rated Duncan down at Headquarters this weekend.

Taqleed was pulled from the Lincoln at Doncaster when a hot ante-post favourite because of the firmish ground and now the rain has come, conditions are ideal.

It's one of those punting quandries, but I shall be sticking with Diescentric I think.....

From past experience Richard Fahey's runners always go very close on his home patch and Barefoot Lady is my selection for the Musidora Stakes.

She's got a Guineas run under her belt and the kind of form that you look back on and say - looked a good thing.

Rose Blossom did us a favour at this meeting last year and Faahey's front-running flying filly is sure to go wel lagain in the Duke of York sprint.

However, Delegator was something of a class act even with only three runs last year and if he has been tuned up for this, expect to see something special.

He probably won't be such good value again this year.

Doctor Zhivago, trained by another Tyke David Nicholls, is a horse that has been brought along steadily and is reaching concert pitch...might be an each-way steal in a tough one to crack.