YORKSHIRE-based trainer, Kevin Ryan, has pointed the way to York and the Juddmonte International for The Grey Gatsby.

The Frank Gillespie-owned five-year-old is on target to take up his engagement in the richest ever race at York, the £900,000 Group 1 feature on Wednesday 17 August – the opening day of the Welcome To Yorkshire Ebor Festival.

The son of Mastercraftsman has pleased at home since the Princess Of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket last month when he finished second behind subsequent Goodwood Cup winner, Big Orange.

Ryan’s charge returns to a mile and a quarter at York where connections will be hoping it is third time lucky. He finished second to Australia in 2014 and third behind Arabian Queen and Golden Horn, twelve months ago.

The Grey Gatsby is yet add a follow up success to his terrific victory at the expense of Australia in the 2014 Irish Champion Stakes. In a stellar three-year-old campaign, he also landed the Prix de Jockey Club at Longchamp and the Betfred Dante Stakes, run over the same course and distance as the Juddmonte International.

Ryan, who is based at Hambleton near Thirsk, said: “The Grey Gatsby is on target for the Juddmonte. He’s in good order and we are hoping the weather stays fair and we get some good fast ground.

“He has run well in the last two years and has never run a bad race at York – we are hopeful that he can be competitive again.”

Later in the week, the Coolmore Nunthorpe is on the agenda for both Brando and Goken from the Ryan yard. The former won the Group 3 Coral Charge at Sandown before finishing second behind last year’s Nunthorpe winner, Mecca’s Angel, in a Group 2 at The Curragh. Goken put up a career best when third in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot and has run respectably on two outings since.

Ryan added: “The plan is to run Brando and Goken…both are in good form.

“Brando is an improving sprinter. He will have to improve again but I’m very happy with him.

“Goken ran very well at Royal Ascot and in the July Cup where he got no run. The ground was a bit quick for him (in the King George Stakes) at Goodwood last week.”

The richest ever renewal of this famous sprint, now with £340,000 in the kitty, takes place on day three of the Welcome To Yorkshire Ebor Festival – Friday 19 August.