Harry Angel geared up for his seasonal reappearance at York reports trainer Clive Cox
Cox's sprinter is the odds-on favourite to get his season off to a good start in the Duke Of York Stakes
TRAINER Clive Cox can't wait to get "once in a lifetime" horse Harry Angel back on the racecourse.
Cox's sprinter makes his return in the Duke of York Stakes on the Knavesmire this Wednesday, his first run since finishing fourth at Ascot on Champions Day last October.
He said: "We are looking forward to bringing him to York. We had a tricky spring and I think it's fair to say this is a starting point. So I'd be pleased when he has got his first run under his belt.
"But he is in good nick and the yard is going well at the moment.";
"He has done very well over the winter. He is turning up with a penalty because of his Group 1 success last year, but I am very happy with him.
"He is a once in a lifetime horse. He makes the heart race on every occasion you see him on the racetrack.
"It's a dream to have a top-flight horse. On last year he was the highest-rated six-furlong horse in the world. That's an amazing accolade and I'm very proud to be in charge of him."
Among Harry Angel's rivals are last year's Duke of York hero Tasleet who is back to defend his crown.
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Trainer William Haggas said: "He's a good horse, softer ground slows the others down a bit, probably, but he's as good as we can have him for this stage of the season.
"Obviously Harry Angel is a top-class horse and even with a penalty will be very hard to beat still, but you never know.
"The races pick themselves for him this season, except he won't be going for the July Cup as I don't think he likes Newmarket. He'll go for the Prix Maurice de Gheest as a replacement."
Kevin Ryan's Brando was a disappointing favourite in this race a year ago and connections will expect better after he won the Abernant Stakes at Newmarket last month.
Ryan said: "He's in good form, he did well at Newmarket and he should have improved from the run.
"He was disappointing in this race last year, but it's a different year now and we'll try again. Harry Angel will be tough to beat, but we'll have to take him on sometime and we can't avoid him."
David Griffiths' Ornate, Mick Easterby's Perfect Pasture, David Elsworth's Sir Dancealot and Dominik Moser's German challenger Artistica complete the line-up.