It’s a typically tricky card for layers at York, but with the sun shining with a vengeance, those who need to make a print are at a disadvantage, and I can’t see Great Prospector enjoying hearing his hooves rattle in the Infinity Tyres Handicap.

Matchbook's resident Horse Racing tipster Micheál Deasy previews Day One of the York Dante Festival.

Fusil Raffles wowed observers when winning at Kempton on his debut for Nicky Henderson, but was that a win of style over substance? I think so.

I know, I know, it’s Apple’s Jade again. But this time there should be no excuses, and after the bizarre decision to run her over three miles at Aintree having beaten Supasundae pointless over this trip, it’s time to make amends, and assuming she is healthy, she can run riot.

The Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle looks well named, as the race sponsored by the civil-engineering firm looks a good one for punters to pile into handicap snip Acey Milan.

Minella Indo seemed to me to beat Commander of Fleet and Allaho strictly on merit at Cheltenham, and Henry de Bromhead’s charge has improved notably from start to start, so it makes sense that he should confirm form in similar conditions. So why’s he not favourite? Beats me.

Min is a hot favourite for the Champion Chase on day one of the Punchestown Festival, but his best effort came when allowed to dictate over further at Aintree, and he could find himself tactically snookered by his own stablemates today.

"Given the mid-tier nature of this fixture, there are no outstanding performers, but Cause Toujours has the remarkable record of trading odds-on in every race he has contested except one, and the exception was the Grade 1 Champion Bumper in 2017. Even then he started favourite"