MALTON trainer Brian Ellison is hoping stable stalwart Balty Boys can go one better than last year when he runs in Thirsk’s EBF Stallions.com Michael Foster Conditions Stakes over seven furlongs on Saturday.

The seven-year-old Cape Cross gelding was beaten a length and a quarter by Heaven’s Guest in this £15,000 event in 2015, and later in the season went on to run the same horse to a fast-diminishing head in the valuable Gigaset International Stakes at Ascot.

Following his Thirsk run, Balty Boys landed a competitive event at Newmarket, while he followed up his sterling effort at Ascot by landing a Group Three contest at Haydock before his form tailed off in the autumn as a tough campaign took its toll.

Ellison reports Balty Boys to be in good shape for his seasonal reappearance on Thirsk’s seven-race card – the North Yorkshire racecourse’s first of 17 meetings in 2016.

He said: “Balty Boys definitely runs on Saturday, having been in it last year. He had a great season last time and has done plenty of work, but he will improve for the run. We are using this as a prep for the Bet365 Mile at Sandown on April 22”.

Ellison added: “I intend to have runners in every race on the Thirsk card and the horses are quite forward and very well”.

Last season’s winning trainer Richard Fahey could again provide strong opposition to Balty Boys in the form of last season’s Goodwood winner Rene Mathis, who looks sure to improve on the back of his solid run when fifteenth behind Secret Brief in the Betway Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster earlier this month.

Another horse beaten in the Lincoln to hold an entry on Saturday is David O’Meara’s French import Lord Of The Land. A progressive sort for Andre Fabre in 2015, Lord Of The Land will be on a recovery mission if taking his chance as he finished a disappointing 19th in the Lincoln after being gambled on to 6-1 second favourite.

He is clearly highly regarded by O’Meara as Lord Of The Land holds an entry for the group three Amethyst Stakes at Leopardstown next monthj.

Racegoers’ entertainment at Thirsk will be enhanced by the big screen opposite the stands and paddock, while music will be provided by Gary Grace, “The New King Of Swing.”
For the children, there will be bouncy castles and a playground in the Family Enclosure.
Entry to the Premier Enclosure costs £25, while Paddock admission can be obtained for £16. For more information, go to: www.thirskracecourse.net

Gates open at 11am and the first race will be staged at 1.45pm.