Dar misses Yorkshire Oaks outing

The three-time Group One winner was forced to miss last month's King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes due to a foot problem and connections feel she would not be fit enough to do herself justice next week due to the work she missed.

Gosden's racing secretary, Peter Shoemark, said: "She lost a bit of time due to the foot abscess that caused her to miss the King George and the Yorkshire Oaks has just come a bit too soon for her.

"She will now be aimed at the Prix Vermeille at Longchamp (September 12)."

Despite Dar Re Mi's absence, 10 high-class fillies remain in York's Group One contest on August 19.

Last year's dual Oaks winner, Sariska, has been left in by Michael Bell, while Nassau Stakes heroine Midday could line up for Henry Cecil.

This year's Oaks winner Snow Fairy and the runner-up Meeznah are both in contention, while Barshiba, Flying Cloud, Irish raider Profound Beauty, Eleanora Duse and Hibaayeb are all possibles.

Completing the entries is Gosden's High Heeled, although she appears an unlikely runner having been declared to run in France on Saturday.

William Haggas plans to declare Harris Tweed for the totesport Ebor at York on Wednesday – even though the colt is set to run in the Great Voltigeur Stakes the day before.

The Newmarket trainer believes the three-year-old has no chance of making the cut for the prestigious handicap as he needs 11 horses above him to come out at Monday's final declaration stage.

But he will still declare him so ante-post punters who backed him down to 6-1 second favourite will have their stake money refunded.

That means he is highly likely to go for the Voltigeur which is a recognised trial for the Ladbrokes St Leger, for which Harris Tweed also holds an entry.

"He's a lovely horse and potentially a very nice stayer, but he's not going to get in the Ebor," said Haggas.

"He needs 11 to come out and that's not going to happen, so it will be the Voltigeur which is much tougher.

"But why not run in races like that? He's a nice horse, why not?

"He will be declared for the Ebor, so those who have backed him will get their money back if he doesn't get in.

"I must stress he is not a soft-ground horse, so I probably won't run him in the Voltigeur if the ground is soft."

Before York kicks off next week there's the small matter of the Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon, and the one to be on in thesix-furlong cavalry charge could be Damika.

No horse has won from a single-figure stall since 2000, so his berth in stall 15 looks ideal and with a record of one win and two seconds from four visits to the garden racecourse, Richard Whitaker's charge can strike.

The Scarcroft handler has his string in fine fettle at present and Damika, a fine thirdunder top weight on good to soft ground at Haydock last time, could be right in the firing line where it matters.