Tournedos swoops at York

The Epsom "Dash" on Derby Day is on the cards for Tournedos after he blew away the opposition at York.

The 33-1 outsider covered the five furlongs of the Enter The Flat totetentofollow Stakes in a blistering 58.46 seconds, to leave sprint king Dandy Nicholls dusting down his top hat and tails. Tournedos stormed home to beat the fast-finishing River Falcon by half a length, with Bertoliver another head away third.

"That was quick, the time surprised me, the ground must be drying up," Nicholls said of the six-year-old, who won the Group Three Molecomb Stakes as a juvenile when trained by Mick Channon.

"I didn't realise he'd won that far. He had an operation on his wind last year and we've had that put right. He gets a 4lb penalty and he'll probably go up by more than that so he'll go to Epsom. I'll get my top hat and tails sorted."

Royal Ascot's Coventry Stakes could be Lord Shanakill's next race after Karl Burke's youngster floored the well-fancied newcomer Awinnersgame in the Constant Security EBF Maiden Stakes.

Up with the pace throughout, Lord Shanakill (13-2) kept up the gallop to win by two and three-quarter lengths from the 6-4 favourite.

Burke said: "I was quietly confident, he's improved a lot since Thirsk and has been working very well. We bought five from Keeneland last year and he's the first we've run. He's from a real Group-winning family."

Charlie Farnsbarns showed he still retains plenty of ability with a game victory in the Ralph Raper Memorial Stakes.

Brian Meehan's four-year-old has been restricted to just one run since finishing second to Authorized in the Racing Post Trophy 19 months ago but produced a sterling effort under Frankie Dettori to hold Benandonner by a short head.

"He's a very good horse and he's just coming back now. They should have fun with him this year and he deserved that," said bloodstock agent Johnny McKeever, who bought the horse as a yearling.