Washington Heights and Garner will represent different syndicates in the £100,000 six-furlong feature for three-year-old sprinters on the Knavesmire, part of the 52nd Macmillan Charity Raceday.

The fact that they are part of the same ‘stable’ is likely to generate that little bit of friendly rivalry around the big race.

“There’s maybe ten minutes of daggers at dawn and then everyone’s fine again,” joked Hambleton Racing’s head of racing, Cosmo Charlton.

“We’ll have owners coming for both horses, cheering them on. Hopefully, we’ll get one of them in the first three or four.”

The Kevin Ryan-trained Washington Heights has the stronger form in the book, having finished runner-up in back-to-back hot handicaps at Newmarket in May.

Charlton said: “Washington Heights has done brilliantly this season so far. He has run a cracker on each of his last two starts and we’re hoping for another big run. We think York suits him well. He has some solid course and distance form to his name. He ran well in the sales races last year (beaten a head) and we’re hoping he has a good each-way chance in a strong race.”

Garner is much the less exposed of the two Hambleton Racing runners, having just three previous starts to his name. But the Archie Watson-trained gelding has won twice, including at Lingfield on June 1, which was his first run for current connections.

Charlton added: “Garner is more of an unknown quantity. His inexperience could be an issue in a very competitive race, but he’s in good form at home and he won easily at Lingfield in a novice – his first start for us. We’re hoping his mark (88) is fair and that he can make an impact in a race of this nature.”

Jamie Spencer is booked to ride Washington Heights and Hollie Doyle will partner Garner with both horses set to encounter different underfoot conditions to their recent outings.

Charlton said: “I think Washington Heights will enjoy the quicker ground. He ran well despite the ground at Newmarket. He’s got plenty of form on quicker ground. Garner has only run three times, so he’s a horse we’re still finding out about. He hasn’t run on ground this quick – hopefully he’ll handle it well.”

On a busy day for Hambleton Racing’s syndicates, they are also represented in the Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Grand Cup. Evergreen eight-year-old, Outbox, will contest the Listed race that’s staged over the same mile and three-quarters in which he finished second to Hukum, being in the Group 3 John Smith’s Silver Cup Stakes in July 2021.

For his latest visit to the Knavesmire, Outbox is poised to face six rivals.

Charlton said: “His career-best effort is over course and distance. He’ll enjoy the quick ground. We’re hopeful of a good run. Everything’s right for him – ground, trip and track.”

Saturday will be another fine advert for Hambleton Racing, who have been making their mark consistently for more than 15 years.

Charlton said: “It’s great to have runners in high-quality races – and on a budget as well. So many of our horses are bought at reasonable prices and we’ve had plenty impacting at stakes and high-end handicap level. We’ve felt for a long time we’re able to impact at that higher level without breaking the bank.”

The latest York meeting gets underway on Friday with a seven-race card – the opening Andy Thornton Hospitality Furniture apprentice handicap is scheduled for 1.50pm.