York tips: Three double-figure priced fancies for Friday

This looks a red-hot contest on paper, with seven of the nine hugely exciting prospects winning last time out, and four of those victories were debut efforts. However, Juliet Sierra is one of the most experienced contenders in the field and sets a high standard for her rivals to aim at.

Ralph Beckett's filly struck at Group Three level on her third outing last season and while the form of that race hasn't worked out particularly well, she didn't get any cover plus was still green when hitting the front.

It is her effort in the Cheveley Park on her final outing last season that stands out here, though, as she was beaten less than five lengths by Lezoo, and the form of that race has worked out extremely well, with Meditate winning at the Breeders' Cup on her next outing, and Mawj, who finished third, winning this year's QIPCO 1000 Guineas.

Juliet Sierra didn't appear to handle the dip on that occasion, either, and her handler said last year that he never felt his daughter of Bated Breath was a six-furlong filly.

Her breeding suggests the step up to a mile will be ideal (the horses she's closely related to all won over eight furlongs or further) and plenty more can be expected on her return to action.

Carrying a 5lb penalty isn't ideal here, and she also lacks a recent run, which is another slight negative. She also bypassed the QIPCO 1000 Guineas due to an unsatisfactory scope, but she doesn't deserve to be a 12-1 chance based upon her efforts last year, especially with Beckett's team in fine form.

Masekela is the class act in this 0-100 handicap and it will be disappointing if Andrew Balding's charge doesn't go close dropping in class here.

Last year's Derby fourth contested Group Three contests after his run at Epsom and it was encouraging that he ran well at this track when fourth on similar ground to this in the Strensall Stakes before he chased home Adayar in a Conditions race.

He now finds himself on a rating of 102 having been dropped two pounds following his below-par effort in the Earl Of Sefton on his return to action, which was also his first outing since being gelded.

Balding did say his four-year-old would "come on a huge amount for the run" and he certainly shaped as if that was the case as he raced exuberantly before fading two furlongs out.

He ought to strip much fitter now and while he has an outside draw (stall 11), I am hoping he will be able to drift over and help dictate the pace.

This five-year-old recorded a string of disappointing efforts after finishing a close fourth in a class 2 handicap at Haydock last year off a rating of 96.

As a result of his below-par efforts, he returned on a rating of 84 this season and bounced back to form to finish third in a 0-100 handicap at Musselburgh, the form of which has worked out well (the fourth and fifth have won stronger races since).

That was also his first outing since being gelded, and a wind op, and he shaped much better than the result suggests last time out having been hampered when leaving the stalls plus finding himself short of room in the home straight.

He's been dropped another pound since, and there is no doubting he is well handicapped. One slight concern is that he finished last on his sole start at York, but that came when he was out of form last season, so I'm happy to forgive that.

It was no surprise to see the 14-1 available on Thursday afternoon swiftly taken, but Gioia Cieca still appeals each-way at a general 10-1.