KEVIN RYAN, who needs just one more winner to take his tally in Britain to 1,500 could hit the target with the veteran Bogart in the Watch Racing UK On Talktalk TV Handicap at Thirsk’s extra meeting tomorrow.
The fixture switched from Wetherby as part of the deal which took last Saturday’s scheduled Thirsk Hunt Cup meeting in the other direction to avoid a clash with the Tour De Yorkshire cycle race which was passing through Thirsk that day, has produced some great fields.
For Hambleton trainer Ryan, it could be a red-letter day on his local course as he chases that one winner needed for a significant landmark success.
He had three chances at Beverley on Monday, but it would be particularly significant if Bogart could do the trick as the nine-year-old has been in great form this year after a winless run stretching back to a valuable York handicap at the 2013 Ebor Festival.
However, an eye-catching second on the all-weather at Chelmsford was followed by a cracking run to take third at Beverley last time when he started favourite and with Bogart off the same handicap mark here, he has every chance of working the oracle.
He goes best with Tom Eaves in the saddle and the jockey is on board again tomorrow, just as he was for the first time this year at Beverley, so it could be a case of ‘here’s looking at you, Kev’ for the Hambleton trainer this time.
John Gosden has a cracking record just about everywhere in the country, but his tally of one win since 2014 at Thirsk indicates that the Newmarket trainer is a fairly infrequent raider to North Yorkshire.
However, he has a two-horse raid tomorrow including Hinde Street, who landed a 25-1 stunner first time up at Lingfield last month and will be a much warmer order in the Subscribe To Racing UK On Youtube Novice Stakes.
Owned by Michael Tabor, the son of Giant’s Causeway was pretty impressive on his racecourse bow and could prove hard to beat in what looks a quality race.
Racing gets underway at Thirsk at 1.55pm with the first of a sparkling eight races, although the gates open at 11am.