The Duke of York Stakes is the feature race of the opening day of the 2013 Dante Festival and is expected to be an extremely open affair with five horses available at single figure odds.
Mince (7/2) is the current favourite in the 2013 York Stakes betting market at 
Bet365 followed by Maarek (11/2), Tickled Pink (5/1), Society Rock (15/2) and Gordon Lord Byron (9/1).
Mince is unbeaten over his last four starts and is returning to the races for the first time since his narrow victory over Soul in the Group 3 Bengough Stakes last Wednesday.
Jockey James Doyle said the preparation of the Medicean filly has been exceptional and he is confident she can return to her winning ways.
“She’s done nothing but please me and has improved with every bit of work she has had,” Doyle said.
“I’m really looking forward to her this year.
“I think she’ll be a Group One horse.”
Irish-trained galloper Maarek is one the second line of betting but is expected to be well back if the expected rain arrives.
Trainer David Nagle believes the six-year-old is in super form but said he needs rain to win.
“The forecast is meant to be pretty bad in York and I’m the only one that hopes it comes,” Nagle told the Belfast Telegraph.
“As long as there’s no firm in the ground he’ll be OK.”
Society Rock was beaten handily by Maarek in the 2012 British Champions Sprint Stakes but jockey Kieran Fallon is confident the son of Rock of Gibraltar can reverse the result today and add a third Group 1 win to his victories in the 2011 Golden Jubilee Stakes and the 2012 Haydock Sprint Cup.
“This horse has to be up for top sprint honors again following his success in the Group 1 Haydock Sprint last year,” Fallon wrote in his column for the Weekender.
“He is a very versatile horse who was unlucky not to win first time out in this race 12 months ago, but for being stopped when making his move.”
The Duke of York Stakes is one of the few races legendary trainer Sir Henry Cecil has failed to win but exciting filly Tickled Pink is a good chance to end his drought after being supplemented into the field.
The four-year-old defeated a strong field to win the Group 3 Abernant Stakes and is another horse that won’t mind the sting being taken out of the ground.
You can find the best 2013 Duke of York Stakes odds at Bet365.
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