CAPTAIN Dunne, one of the most popular sprint handicappers in the North, is poised to return to the scene of two of his most recent triumphs on Sunday.
Tim Easterby’s evergreen 11-year-old is entered in Thirsk’s feature Watch Racing UK in HD Handicap over five furlongs, one of seven contests in the racecourse’s first Sunday meeting for over 10 years.

Captain Dunne usually comes to hand early and did so last season when he won his first to races, both of them at Thirsk last May, winning at 25-1 and again at 16-1 both times in the hands of Rachel Richardson, who made it three wins when Captain Dunne scored at Catterick in July.

The veteran has been a great servant to his Great Habton trainer and has run 89 races, winning 12 of them and reaching the frame on a further 25 occasions.

“Captain Dunne has been working well and is very likely to go to Thirsk on Sunday. He is also in at Doncaster on Friday, but I am favouring Thirsk at the moment” said Easterby.

There will be six supporting races on the Thirsk card which gets under way at 2.20pm. Gates open at 11am.

With it being a Family Sunday Fun Day, the emphasis off the track is providing fun for the children, who get in free when accompanied by a paying adult. The Family Enclosure will feature a range of activities including pony rides, a Punch and Judy show, bouncy castles and a playground.

There will be a big screen on which to follow the racing, while musical entertainment will be provided by the Playlist..