JUST about everything that Aidan O'Brien touches turns to gold, so backing against the Irish maestro at York's eagerly-anticipated first fixture of the season may prove unwise.

O'Brien is sending over a couple of his big guns for the three-day festival, notably top filly Alexandrova (2.45) for this afternoon's Musidora Stakes, a Group 3 race in which according to the official ratings she holds all the aces.

Without wishing to wander too far into the back streets of clich city, everything Alexandrova achieved in 2005 as a two-year-old must be regarded as nothing short of a bonus.

Being a daughter of Sadler's Wells out of a Shirley Heights mare, her fabulous pedigree suggests the filly will improve markedly with age, yet she still occupied second spot in last October's Group 1 Meon Valley Stakes at Newmarket.

Aidan probably won't have the selection fully wound up bearing in mind her next target, the Epsom Oaks, for which she's ante-post favourite, is only three weeks away. But Alexandrova should theoretically win with the minimum of fuss.

As far as competitive edge is concerned, the following Group 2 Duke of York Hearthstead Homes Stakes represents a much harder riddle to solve.

Plenty of the current leading sprinters are engaged in the six- furlong dash, including the Welsh-trained winner 12 months ago, The Kiddykid, partnered by reigning champion jockey, Jamie Spencer.

This year's renewal appears significantly stronger, in which case The Kiddykid may struggle to contend with the likes of the more locally-based runner, Balthazaar's Gift (3.15).

Kevin Ryan's inmate rounded off last season with a course and distance success, swiftly followed by an even more prestigious triumph in a red-hot Group 2 event at Maison Lafitte.

"Balthazaar's Gift is a lovely horse with a big engine," reports Ryan, who numerically (36) has sent out more winners than any other trainer in the UK this year.

Several potential Royal Ascot juveniles line up for the £13,000 Blue Square EBF Novice Stakes, none more so than the colt at the head of the weights, Alternative (4.25).

Raif Beckett's youngster, who pulled well clear of his rivals on only his second lifetime start at Bath, possesses a pleasing blend of ability, plus a natural willingness to get on with the job in hand.

Equating polytrack form to the turf is always difficult, however when an individual such as Tears Of A Clown (4.55) scores by no less than ten lengths on a man-made surface, then it's normally worth sitting up and taking notice.

Jamie Osborne's three-year-old didn't seem to be thrashing total dross on his recent Lingfield romp, therefore he could easily build on that sparkling success to open his account on grass in the closing ten- furlong Handicap.

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