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Lah Ti Dar on song for Middleton return

Lah Ti DarLah Ti Dar
© Photo Healy Racing

John Gosden is looking forward to seeing Lah Ti Dar make her seasonal reappearance in the Al Basti Equiworld Middleton Stakes at York.

A daughter of star stallion Dubawi out of the top-class racemare Dar Re Mi, the four-year-old certainly upheld family honour last term - winning her first three starts, including a 10-length demolition job in the Galtres Stakes at this venue last August.

She rounded off her campaign, after finishing second in the St Leger at Doncaster, by running third to Magical on Champions Day at Ascot - and will be a red-hot favourite on Thursday to make a successful return to action on the Knavesmire.

Lah Ti Dar's full-brother, last season’s star juvenile Too Darn Hot, also makes his belated comeback in the Dante Stakes later in the afternoon.

Gosden said: "We’ve been pleased with Lah Ti Dar. This has been planned for some time.

"So, you might say this has been Plan A - with her brother, it has not been Plan A!

"She's happy in herself. It is a good starting point for any filly, and we're looking forward to running her.

"The Middleton is a lovely race, placed well in the calendar."

Lah Ti Dar faces five rivals in the 10-furlong Group Two.

Her biggest threat, according to official ratings, is the Mark Johnston-trained Nyaleti — who also has the benefit of a recent run, having filled the runner-up spot in the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket earlier this month.

Johnston said: "We’re up against a formidable opponent, but our filly is obviously in very good form and we always say you should never run away from one horse.

"We're stepping up to a mile and a quarter, but I think she’s actually better over that trip. I’m very confident the mile and a quarter won’t be a problem whatsoever."

Sir Michael Stoute fires a twin assault, with Rawdaa and Sun Maiden in the mix.

David Simcock’s Mrs Sippy and Queen Of Time from Henry Candy's yard complete the line-up.