Noseda has his top trio set for York

Jeremy Noseda could be triple-handed in this Saturday's John Smith's Cup at York in an attempt to clinch the valuable handicap he was denied by a matter of inches last year.

The Newmarket trainer confirmed a trio of horses at yesterday's five-day stage. They were headed by Man O'Mystery, who was beaten a head by Sobriety 12 months ago when carrying 8st 2lb. He has been allotted 9st 11lb this year, just 1lb shy of top-weight but uncertain runner, Mastermind.

Three-year-olds, Prize Winner and filly Denise Margaret, are set to join their elder stablemate in bidding for the £135,000 ten-furlong handicap. Jockey Mick Kinane advised Noseda to drop Prize Winner down in trip after his ninth in the 12-furlong Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap at the Royal Meeting.

Also ninth in Royal Ascot's King George V Handicap, Denise Margaret made a successful reappearance at Sandown last Saturday. That hands her a 5lb penalty at York, but Noseda hopes to book 3lb-claiming apprentice, Jamie Mackay, to reduce her burden to 7st 10lb. Prize Winner wields 9st.

"Looking at the entries at the five-day stage, I can only see seven horses capable of winning and three of those are mine," said Noseda. "I don't want to talk about other people's horses, but I know my three all have realistic chances.

"Man O'Mystery wouldn't want the going too fast - in fact good ground would be ideal for all three. He has been unlucky not to win one or two decent races and would have beaten Zindabad, the Hardwicke second, at Newmarket earlier this season with a clear run. He'd have gone up 6lb in the handicap for that.