Ed Crisford hopes that Misty Dancer can give him and his father Simon an early season boost by securing victory on her come back in the British EBF Nottinghamshire Oaks on Tuesday (2nd May).
The daughter of Dubawi will bid to make it second time lucky at Listed level in the mile and a quarter feature after coming unstuck at the same grade on her final start last season at Doncaster in November.
Before signing off the campaign with defeat on her Listed, debut, Misty Dancer had appeared to be a filly on an upward curve having backed up her maiden success at Goodwood with handicap victories at Ayr and Newbury.
With conditions expected to be in favour of Misty Dancer, who is reported to have made ‘more progress than expected’ over the winter, Crisford is confident she can resume that progression in the hands of Classic-winning jockey James Doyle.
Ed Crisford said “Misty Dancer will like the ground at Nottingham as the rain that has come gives her every chance.
“Although proving versatile winning on three different types of going, she wants some cut in the ground.
“The horse has been working really well at home and is making more progress than we expected, which is promising ahead of her first run of the season.
“These Listed races are always very deep and wide-open contests but we fancy our chances to at least run into the frame.”
British EBF Nottinghamshire Oaks Stakes (Listed Race) 1m 2f 50y
4.10pm, Nottingham, Tuesday 2nd May
1 Golden Lyra (IRE) 4 9 5 Sunderland Holding Inc. William Haggas Tom Marquand
2 Annerville (IRE) p 5 9 2 Newtown Anner Stud Farm J. P. Murtagh Ireland Ben Coen
3 Crystal Caprice (IRE) 4 9 2 Exors of the late Sir E. D. Rothschild Sir Michael Stoute Richard Kingscote
4 Hotter Than Hades (IRE) p 4 9 2 Miss A. H. Marshall Jack W Davison Ireland R. P. Whelan
5 Life of Dreams 4 9 2 Godolphin Charlie Appleby William Buick
6 Misty Dancer 4 9 2 Sheikh Hamed Dalmook Al Maktoum Simon & Ed Crisford James Doyle
7 Mukaddamah 4 9 2 Shadwell Estate Company Ltd Roger Varian Dane O'Neill
8 One For Bobby (IRE) 4 9 2 Miss A. H. Marshall Hughie Morrison Sean Levey
9 Pink Carnation bl 4 9 2 Clipper Logistics Archie Watson Daniel Tudhope
10 Sunset Shiraz (IRE) ts 4 9 2 Mr L. H. LaRoche Gavin Cromwell Ireland G. F. Carroll
10 declared runners
3 Irish-trained
