IT had been dubbed 'Frenzied Friday.' Six turf meetings in Britain, two meetings in Ireland. Up next is 'Super Saturday' with seven meetings and six Group races!

But punters at York were muttering a number of less polite alternatives this afternoon after a string of favourites flopped and the bookies enjoyed upset after upset!

Of the seven races on the Knavesmire, three were won by horses priced at 20-1 (Mystic Dawn, Marnie James, and Excessable) and a fourth (Mukhayyam) at 14-1.

The date on the programme may have been Friday July 14 but, for many, it felt more like Friday the 13th!

Things started promisingly enough when 11-10 favourite One Minute, ridden by Pat Cosgrave, won the opening race of the afternoon, the Irish EBF/ROA Racing Post Owners Jackpot Novice Stakes.

It was the eighth York winner of the season for William Haggas who comfortably leads the race to be top trainer on the Knavesmire this season.

His horse, which is also entered for next month's Group 2 Lowther Stakes, took the lead over a furlong out and, although chased by Abel Handy and Big Les, never looked like being caught.

But Mainstream, owned by The Queen, proved a big disappointment for favourite backers in the second race,The Unibet Handicap.

Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, the bay gelding had been held up at the back until late on but made a weak bid to catch the winner, Mukhayyam, who was ridden by David Allan.

Malton-based trainer Tim Easterby revealed that Mukhayyam, who flopped as favourite in the Cumberland Plate, was the cheaper half of a bold double purchase by owner TA Scothern at the Newmarket sales.

He had cost just 11,000 guineas while Snoano, who rides in the John Smith's Cup on Saturday, cost nearly double that figure in the subsequent lot.

"It looks like very good business," said Easterby. "He's a lovely horse, who likes good ground, a big track, he's perfect."

Ironically, his previous trainer had been....Sir Michael Stoute!

Jockey Stevie Donohoe made amends for losing the Unibet Handicap when winning the feature race, the Unibet Summer Stakes, on 20-1 outsider Mystic Dawn.

Donohoe held off a desperate late challenge by Queen Kindly to win by a nose.

Novoman then completed a double for Yorkshire-born trainer Haggas when winning the Cakemark Stakes at odds of 4-1 ahead of favourite Visitant.

Richard Fahey's Almane had to be withdrawn from the fifth race, the Garbutt+Elliott Nursery Handicap, after throwing jockey Paul Hanagan and tangling with a tape.

Marnie James, ridden by Nathan Evans, duly pulled off a 20-1 shock and won the race, despite finishing last in his previous two outings.

Rachel Richardson rode Excessable to victory in the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Handicap, completing a double for Easterby, and adding another 20-1 winner to the list.

Lualiwa's victory at 9-2 in the final race may not quite have 'balanced the scales' but it did at least put a stop to the shocks.

It was also Malton trainer Kevin Ryan's first victory at York since the suspension on his yard was lifted following an outbreak of an equine virus.

Around 12,000 people attended today and over 35,000 are expected for the John Smith's Cup on Saturday afternoon.