MANIFEST turned the Emirates Airline Yorkshire Cup into a procession – as the three-day Dante Festival came to a close at York Racecourse.

Henry Cecil’s four-year-old blew away a small field, including Ebor Handicap winner Purple Moon, in an enormously impressive performance.

Manifest travelled well throughout the £140,000 Group 2 contest, and was always prominent.

But it was just inside the two-furlong marker, with Manifest already holding a clear lead, that jockey Tom Queally asked the 13-8 favourite to find another gear – and the Khalid Abdullah-owned colt responded immediately to romp to an eight-length win.

Cecil said: “I love Cup horses and he could just make into a nice one. He does everything right.

“On his breeding, this ground is faster than he would want it. It looks as if he will stay and he could stay in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.”

Cecil, and Queally, notched a double in the very next race when Chachamaidee (5-1) wore down Carioca to take the Listed sportingbet.com Fillies’ Stakes.

Carioca (7-2) had to be cajoled to go into the stalls in the £40,000 one-mile contest but smashed out of the stalls and still led inside the final furlong under Kieren Fallon.

But, coming down the rail, Queally timed his run to perfection on his three-year-old filly – taking victory by three quarters of a length.

Hoof It (5-2) landed the Ralph Raper Memorial Stakes for Sheriff Hutton trainer Mick Easterby.

The veteran handler, who walked the course beforehand because of worries over the quickness of the ground, was delighted with the performance of the three-year-old, who is owned by Chubby Chandler and soon-to-be The Flaxby Country Resort professional golfer Lee Westwood.

Thirsk handler David Barron also notched a winner when Ingleby Lady (6-1 joint favourite) was too good in the sportingbet.com Stakes.

Elsewhere, Primo Lady (7-1) took the opening Langleys Solicitors EBF Marygate Fillies’ Stakes for Gay Kelleway and jockey David Probert.

The two-year-old had a length and three quarters to spare in front of Breedj, with Fifth Avenue in third.

Hanoverian Baron (7-1) made easy work of the £40,000 sportingbet.com Jorvik Stakes giving Probert a quick-fire double.