Lambourn trainer John Hills has his team in good form and a bold show is expected from his Cubism in this afternoon's Duke Of York Victor Chandler Stakes on the Knavesmire.
Hills saddled a 272-1 double at York on Wednesday with wins from Lafite (20-1) in the Brewin Dolphin Securities Middleton Stakes and Dominant Duchess (12-1) in the Peterhouse Group Stakes.
Lafite finished fast to gain the day by a short-head from Fantazia.
'My horses have been needing a run,' said Hills, 'but this one has done well over the winter and is a better filly this year.
'It was the plan to win this race - I won it two years ago with Arriving.'
Dominant Duchess stayed on well in the home straight to take the concluding race.
'She likes to come with a long steady run - she needs time to get it going,' explained the trainer.
'Because of that and the fact that she stays I would favour the Queen Alexandra rather than the Ascot Stakes for her.'
Hills went on: The horses have just come right and Cubism should go well in the Duke Of York.'
Ellens Lad returned to form in style with a game success in the 23-runner Sony Telecom Services Stakes.
With the field splitting into two groups Willie Musson's six-year-old, unplaced in his three starts so far this season, tracked the leaders on the far side as Sunley Sense made the running from stall five in the five-furlong handicap.
Pat Eddery produced Ellens Lad to challenge at the furlong marker and the combination soon got the better of Sunley Sense. However, the latter fought back and Musson's 11-1 chance only had a neck to spare at the line.
Eddery said: 'We were always about a length in front on the far side and my horse could have done with a lead for a bit longer - he tends to stop once in front.'
The Richard Hughes-ridden Mayaro Bay cruised to a comfortable one-and-a-half-length triumph over Caribbean Monarch in the Hambleton Rated Stakes to book her ticket for Royal Ascot.
Sylvester Kirk, representing the winning trainer Richard Hannon, said: 'I believe the trainer would have the Hunt Cup at the back of his mind and then possibly a little Group Three the way she won today.'
Another bound for the Royal meeting is Barking Mad who took the EBF Blue Bicycle Maiden Stakes by a length from Firework.
The winner's trainer Michael Bell said: 'He's been working very well at home and travelled very well today.
'He sat down in the stalls on his debut so we had him put in last today and he was OK.
'He'll go for the Coventry Stakes now.'
Eddery, third on Barakana, was banned for one day (May 26) for 'using his whip with excessive frequency on an inexperienced two-year-old'.
