Confirmed runners and riders for the Paddy Power Yorkshire Cup on Friday

Trueshan will miss the first clash of the season with Stradivarius on Friday after the dual Group 1 winner was not declared for the Paddy Power Yorkshire Cup.

His absence leaves Stradivarius with just four rivals in the Group 2 contest as he bids to land the race for a record-breaking third time.

The eight-year-old, who won the race in 2018 and 2019, makes his first start this season for John and Thady Gosden and will retain the partnership with Frankie Dettori.

Friday 3.35: Paddy Power Yorkshire Cup Stakes full card and betting

The race marks the first stop in a three-race plan for connections, with the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and the Goodwood Cup on the agenda for what could be Stradivarius's final season.

"He still enjoys his training but he knows it all backwards now," said John Gosden. "Rather like an old prize fighter coming back into the ring, it's the getting fit and up for the fight – it's not as easy as it used to be when he was younger. So, I would expect him to be benefitting from the race.

"I'm certainly not giving him hard work at home – he's too old for that. To that extent I don't want everyone there thinking he's going to necessarily go and win another Yorkshire Cup. I'd just like to see him run a race that acts as a platform going forward."

The going is good for the opening day of the Dante meeting but due to a lack of rain Trueshan's trainer Alan King will likely opt for Sandown's Listed Henry II Stakes on May 26.

King voiced concerns last week over ground conditions for Trueshan, who won his seasonal reappearance at Nottingham in April and is seeking a final preparation run prior to contesting the Gold Cup.

Although Trueshan will not be in action at York, Stradivarius will face another two-time Group 1 winner in Search For A Song, who was second on her return at Navan last month.

The Dermot Weld-trained Search For A Song will head back to YorkCredit: Patrick McCann

The Dermot Weld-trained mare has raced twice in Britain, winning her sole start on the Knavesmire in 2019 before finishing second to Trueshan in the 2020 Long Distance Cup.

Tashkhan, who got the better of Stradivarius in last year's Long Distance Cup, will reoppose under Ben Robinson.

John Porter winner Max Vega will line up for trainer Ralph Beckett while 2020 Dante winner Thunderous, who was sixth in that Group 3 contest at Newbury, will be aiming to build on his recent Ormonde Stakes second under Franny Norton.

Yorkshire Cup runners and riders

StradivariusFrankie Dettori
Max VegaRob Hornby
TashkhanBen Robinson
Thunderous Franny Norton
Search For A Song Chris Hayes

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