Richard Fahey, leading trainer at York for the last four years, is aiming to make a flying start to the 2011 campaign on Knavesmire by saddling runners in all seven races on tomorrow’s curtain-raising card, including two of his star performers in the feature events.

Rose Blossom makes her eagerly-awaited reappearance in the Group 2 Duke of York Blue Square Stakes, which boasts £100,000 in prize money, and Barefoot Lady turns out for the £65,000 Tattersalls Musidora Stakes.

Both are fancied to hit the target for their in-form Malton trainer, who sent out four winners at last week’s Chester May Festival.

Barefoot Lady, who is the first into battle, has already proved a revelation this term.

Winner of the Group 2 Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket on her debut, she followed up by finishing a very creditable fifth in the 1,000 Guineas, doing all her best work late on and only just missing out on fourth prize.

Tomorrow, she steps up to an extended mile-and-a-quarter for the first time and the extra distance could bring out even more improvement. She is up against a small, select field, but Barefoot Lady is nothing if not super tough and super fit and she may well be able to come out on top in this Group 3 showpiece.

Some high-class sprinters will be going through their paces in the Duke of York, but Rose Blossom is expected to be a match for them as she bids for her third course victory.

Successful in a conditions event at this meeting 12 months ago, Rose Blossom is a real speed merchant and she can provide Paul Hanagan, also the rider of Barefoot Lady, with a thrilling ride.

Tim Easterby’s Hamish McGonagall, another course specialist, and a smooth winner at Musselburgh last time out, has strong place prospects as he steps up to Pattern-race company.

Fahey and Hanagan have other strong chances throughout the card, particularly with Chiswick Bey in the Download The Blue Square App Handicap, who is marginally preferred to stable-mate Common Touch as he steps up to seven furlongs, and Antigua Sunrise, a little unlucky when third and apprentice-ridden on her reappearance at Pontefract two weeks ago.

She runs in the Countrywide Freight Handicap over a mile-and-a-half and is a previous course and distance winner here.

Two other North Yorkshire trainers could also get in on the winning act on day one of this prestigious three-day meeting.

John Quinn saddles Bonfire Knight in the opening Infinity Tyres Handicap and the four-year-old commands plenty of respect.

He ran out a gutsy winner at Doncaster’s opening meeting at the beginning of last month and he swerved a tempting Chester engagement last week to wait for this £20,000 target.

Tim Easterby has good prospects with nap selection Ponty Acclaim in the Bet At bluesq.com Novice Stakes.

A well-regarded filly, this juvenile made an impressive winning debut at Ripon and looks the type to continue to improve with racing.


Racing selections

York
1.30 Bonfire Knight, 2.00 Chiswick Bey, 2.30 Barefoot Lady, 3.00 Rose Blossom, 3.35 Antigua Sunrise, 4.10 Ponty Acclaim (NAP), 4.45 Danadana.

Kempton
6.20 Stoneacre Gareth, 6.50 Costa Del Fortune, 7.20 Waterborne, 7.50 Mulaqen, 8.20 So Is She, 8.50 Tiradito, 9.20 Dashwood.

Tomorrow’s other meetings: Fontwell, Perth and Wincanton.

Today’s meetings: Beverley, Sedgefield, Southwell, Warwick and Yarmouth.