Three winners yesterday kept YorkMix tipster Dick Turpin ahead of the bookies once more.

Copper Knight obliged at 8/1 in the opening race, and Carnwennan scorched home at a healthy 7/1 in the last. Meanwhile, Lah Ti Dar triumphed by a neck at very short odds in the Middleton Stakes.

But the surprise of the day was Oisin Murphy’s triumph on Telecaster in the Dante Stakes, winning by a length, going away from evens favourite Too Darn Hot.

That’s one for the notebook; it will be no surprise now to see the Hughie Morrison trained Telecaster winning at Royal Ascot next month.

So what does our friendly local highwayman recommend for the final day of the Dante meeting?

 
It’s rare that a York meeting doesn’t feature at least one Mark Johnston horse in the winner’s enclosure, writes Turpin.

Of his seven runners so far this week, Monoski, second at 7/1 has come closest. So will it be today that the natural order is re-established?

He saddles Companion in the 5f opener Langleys Solicitors Fillies Stakes (1.50). The daughter of Dark Angel’s debut win at Yarmouth last month didn’t give enough clues as to how much more may be to come. She will have her work cut out to get the better of ‘two runs, two wins’ Lady Kermit, who has proved that there is more in store.

Johnston’s best chance perhaps lies with Natalie’s Joy in the Oaks Farm Stables Stakes (2.25). Good wins at Goodwood and Newbury were followed by training setbacks last summer. If she is back to her best, she can account for Magnetic Charm and Twist And Shake, her likeliest rivals in the contest over almost a mile.

Mildenberger, the Johnston entry in the Yorkshire Cup (3.00) has only an outside chance against last year’s victor, Stradivarius. John Gosden’s powerful son of Sea The Stars, with Frankie Dettori aboard, appears to be without a realistic rival in this stamina test over nearly 1m6f.

Johnston horses are like London buses… you wait a while, in this case three more races, then three come along at once. In the 5.05 handicap over 1m3f, he saddles Fraser Island, Summer Moon and Rochester House.

The first two have solid claims after good performances, respectively, at Beverley and Windsor. So it will be no surprise to see the Middleham maestro having the last laugh on a splendid three days on Knavesmire.

Turpin’s tips

Two nice winners from our tipster Turpin on Wednesday (15 May), Invincible Army and Starcaster, both returned at 7/2.

So Turpin emerged from Knavesmire at level-pegging with the bookies. He’s even more confident today, as the feature Dante Stakes (3.00) looms into view.

 
Poor Frankellina dwelt in the stalls for yesterday’s Musidora Stakes, and would surely have won if she hadn’t conceded those six lengths at the start, writes Turpin.

That’s racing for you. Once the Frankel filly gets the hang of the stalls, she will be unstoppable.

Today’s ‘unstoppable’ selection has to be the four-time winner, Too Darn Hot. He can’t be ignored in the Dante Stakes (3.00). There is only one question-mark hanging over this brilliant Dubawi colt.

A blistering performance in the Dewhurst Stakes was followed by stable reports of a ‘setback’ causing him to miss the 2,000 Guineas.

As long as he is back to his best, there is nothing to touch him, especially with the masterful Frankie Dettori aboard. Only the improving Japan (Ryan Moore up) presents any threat to the nap selection.

It’s no tip at all to mention Lah Ti Dar in the six-runner Middleton Stakes (2.25). The Listed Race winner here last year, who also ran with credit in the St Leger, must surely be a banker for all multiple bets.

The word from David O’Meara’s yard is that Hortzadar (NB) is thriving since moving from France. A classy win at Pontefract suggests Daniel Tudhope’s mount will have enough in the tank to edge it over the progressive Beringer (Andrea Atzeni up) .

I’ve also heard a strong word for Carnwennan in the Hambleton Handicap (3.35). But with 16 evenly matched runners, small stakes are advised.

Take care in the opener (1.50). A thrilling race in prospect, but this handicap has proved a minefield for punters in recent years. Copper Knight is a very tentative selection.

Turpin’s tips

The races are back, and so is our tipster Turpin!

Season opening York Racecourse meeting the Dante Festival will be staged on Knavesmire between Wednesday 15 and Friday 17 May.

But who’s going to win? Over to our man in the know, Dick Turpin…

Knavesmire’s season kicks off with a highly competitive seven-race card and an impressive 111 entries to choose from, writes Turpin.

That number says everything about how hard it will be to pick even one winner today. Your handy highwayman is hoping for a star-of-the-future performance from Frankel’s daughter, Frankellina in the featured Musidora Stakes (3.35).

Although she won on debut at Yarmouth, she ran very green. William Haggas has had six months to work on her track-craft, and she is the Nap selection, sure to give novice winner Sparkle Roll a good battle over the 1m2f.

Staxton makes a welcome return in the 2.25 handicap over 6f. A good third behind Reputation at Ripon, he is now on 9lb better terms with that rival today.

The Easterby-trained four-year-old should have enough in the tank today to give likely favourites Aljady and Vibrant Chords a real run for the money. Great Prospector and Sandra’s Secret have some appeal at long odds.

Turpin’s tips