Five horses to take out of the 2019 Dante Festival at York

There were some taking performances on the Knavesmire last week, one of them being Telecaster’s success in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes.

He has improved leaps and bounds in a short space of time and beat a good-quality field, including last season’s champion two-year-old Too Darn Hot.

I will be surprised if connections do not supplement Telecaster for the Investec Derby at Epsom on June 1, with the extra two furlongs in the blue-riband contest unlikely to pose a problem.

Invincible Army also impressed in the Duke Of York Clipper Logistic Stakes. He looks a different horse this season and connections said afterwards he is a lot more laid back this year.

He produced a performance good enough to see him be competitive in Group Ones, and a big season lies ahead for the son of Invincible Spirit.

As ever, it often pays to look beyond the victors and here are five horses who caught the eye in defeat.

Cogri shaped encouragingly behind First Eleven in this 1m4f contest on his seasonal debut.

Hughie Morrison’s gelding fared best of those held up and made his challenge on the stands’ side, which would have been a disadvantage as the first, second, fourth and fifth all made their effort on the other side of the track.

This was also his first run after a wind operation, and being gelded, so it should have blown the cobwebs away, and further progress is likely this season as he is still relatively lightly raced.

He remains unexposed over this trip and could head to Royal Ascot next for the King George V Stakes – which he finished a close second in last year – on June 20.

This consistent handicapper ran another good race to finish second behind runaway winner Soldier’s Minute.

He was unable to get a run at a crucial stage and still had plenty of ground to make up over a furlong out before finishing strongly once a gap appeared.

Although it is unlikely he would have beaten the winner who got first run on him, he certainly would have finished closer.

His losing run stretches back to April 2017, but he has looked unlucky on numerous occasions and his turn is surely not far away, so it can pay to follow him in similar handicaps this season.

Frankellina was narrowly denied in this Group Three contest and looked an unlucky loser considering she dwelt and lost three lengths at the start.

The daughter of Frankel was having just her second racecourse start having made a successful debut at Yarmouth last year.

Connections believe she will come on for the run and I would be surprised if she didn’t turn into the best filly from this race.

The youngster may head to the Investec Oaks at Epsom on May 31 – which she is a best-priced 16-1 for with Betfair and Paddy Power - or, if that comes too soon, then a trip to Royal Ascot looks on the cards.

Probably the biggest eyecatcher of the week, Galadriel flew home from an unpromising position to finish fourth in this Listed contest behind Good Vibes.

The daughter of Dutch Art was hampered leaving the stalls before showing her inexperience throughout the race and was still in last place with two furlongs to run.

However, the way she powered home once the penny dropped was highly encouraging and she is certain to have learnt plenty from this run.

It would be a shock if she could not get off the mark sooner rather than later and is potentially a very useful filly in the making.

New Day Dawn – who was having her first start since November – stayed on nicely to be beaten less than two lengths in this competitive handicap over seven furlongs.

The four-year-old had struggled in three starts at Group and Listed level, and it was encouraging to see her bounce back to form on her handicap debut.

She ought to improve for this run and the way she stayed on inside the final furlong suggests a return to a mile is certain to suit.

She is one to keep on the right side of on fast ground and remains unexposed in handicaps.