JOHN GOSDEN can claim a third consecutive renewal of the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes at York with Woodland Aria.

The Clarehaven handler intentionally targets this race with a good one, having struck in 2011 with Joviality and 12 months ago with excellent filly The Fugue.

Woodland Aria admittedly must have to make a big step up on the Knavesmire, but it is not inconceivable the Musidora has been the plan for a while.

Connections of the daughter of Singspiel were convinced she has the potential to become a contender for the Oaks at Epsom later this month following a striking victory on debut at Wolverhampton in April.

Woodland Aria never came off the bridle in a nine-and-a-halffurlong maiden, in which she defeated Elik by an easeddown half a length.

Sir Michael Stoute considered that runner-up good enough to contest the Cheshire Oaks last week, when she finished a fair fourth, so the form might stack up quite tidily by the end of the year.

Another Stoute inmate, Liber Nauticus, is a huge threat but she might not be quite as forward as Woodland Aria on her return from a 253-day layoff.

Gosden’s inmate crucially has bags of stamina in her pedigree, so this step up to a mile and a quarter is still likely to be the shortest at which she is campaigned this summer.

Plenty of the usual suspects are out in full force for the Duke of York Clipper Logistics Stakes, but pick of the litter could be Mince.

The four-year-old filly enjoyed a marvellous season as a three-year-old, with five victories from eight outings.

Roger Charlton’s sprinter seemed to improve with each start, too, and signed off with a battling head victory in the Bengough Stakes at Ascot in October.

The ground was very demanding in Berkshire that day, so a return to a faster surface at York is sure to be a boon – as is the fact she is already a course-and-distance winner.

Assuming Mince is fully fit and ready to go, the deeply likeable four-year-old has every chance of manipulating her 3lb allowance under James Doyle.

Punters could also be rewarded at generous odds if Secret Witness is anywhere near at his best for the Whixley Stakes.

Ron Harris’ seven-year-old loves York, and was a halflength scorer in this race 12 months ago, after which he finished second over a furlong shorter a day later.

Although his season rather tapered off, this was perhaps understandable as he had been on the go for quite some time.

Suitably freshened up by a lengthy break, Secret Witness is now back on the same mark off which he finished runner-up over five furlongs here last July.

It would be a shame if Silverrica did not go close in the Premier Conservatory Roofs Handicap at Bath.

The Malcolm Saunders-trained filly did well over six furlongs here a fortnight ago, when she chased home the aboveaverage Asian Trader.

Saunders will be unlucky if she encounters a similarly sharp rival in this low-grade affair, in which the shorter trip could feasibly tip the scales in her balance.