SWISS DIVA ON SONG

THERE were almost as many serious gambles as there were runners in the Reg Griffin Memorial Handicap on York's charity day on Saturday.

But the bookies finally settled at 10-1 on the Ryan Moore-ridden Swiss Diva, who got the better of a dramatic final-furlong head-to-head to hold Parisian Pyramid (10-1) by 1¼ -lengths.

Favourite Girl (40-1) was 2¾ -lengths back in third with Rowayton (33-1) fourth.

Trainer David Elsworth had Moore booked early last week. And he put Diva's improvement down to the soft surface.

Elsworth said: "She needs that bit of cut in the ground. She disappointed at Newmarket last time when she wouldn't let herself down on the ground.

"Now she has won a decent handicap we will try to get some black type for her."

Moore earlier got his father Gary's horse, six-year-old Kavachi, home at 11-2 in the Ladbrokes.com Stakes.

A 5lb penalty for this success has taken Kavachi's weight for Wednesday's Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot to 8st 5lb.

But he is not yet high enough in the weights to guarantee a run in the race in which he was fourth last year.

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