YORK’S 2017 season begins next week with the renowned three-day Dante meeting.

The highlight on Wednesday’s opening day is the £125,000 Group 2 Duke of York Stakes over 6f, in which local trainers hold several interesting entries.

Richard Fahey could be double-handed with Growl and Kimberella. The latter was well beaten in a Group 3 5f contest at the recent Guineas meeting and this is again a big ask. Kevin Ryan has entered the progressive Brando, who won well at Headquarters last month and should again go close.

However, all-conquering Aiden O’Brien is the one they all have to fear. The Irish maestro currently holds a trio of entries with the four-year-olds, Washington DC, runner-up in Kimberella’s Newmarket race, and Acapulco, along with the progressive three-year-old Caravaggio, who was unbeaten in four starts as a two-year-old, including Group 1 and Group 2 successes. The colt could well be the pick of the three if going to post.

William Haggas could be represented by Tasleet, while James Fanshawe’s The Tin Man beat both Growl and Brando in the Group 1 British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot last October, but may struggle to do so again at the weights.

It’s hard to split the two last mentioned, so the market may well be the best guide.

Day one begins at 2.20 with two tricky handicaps, with the Group 3 Musidora Stake for fillies another top-notch contest at 4.05. We’ll look at the final two days next week.