The Knavesmire is one of only two British racecourses hosting Flat contests that high-achiever, Boughey has yet to register a winner (Wetherby, also in Yorkshire, is the other).

Since starting his training career five years ago this month, he has enjoyed a string of famous victories, including Classic glory – but a York triumph has so far eluded him.

Boughey, 32, said: “It would be great to have a winner at York, we haven’t got anywhere near yet. It doesn’t matter what day of the week it is – whether it’s the Ebor meeting or just a normal card – for some reason we can’t get them near the winner’s circle.” 

The team at Saffron House Stables are set to be represented by Believing in the £500,000 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes on Friday, 23 August.

And the trainer himself,  joked: “I stopped running horses at York a long time ago, but we might make an exception for a Group 1!”

Believing, owned by Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, has already chalked up Group 2 glory in 2024, having landed the Sapphire Stakes at The Curragh last month.

The four-year-old daughter of Mehmas subsequently ran a fine race at Glorious Goodwood in the Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes, going down by less than a length behind Big Evs and Asfoora. Her close-up finish was all the more notable, given how she dwelt at the starting gates. Boughey said: “I did think after a furlong, ‘Crikey, we’ve really slipped up here and run her downhill at Goodwood, having won at a stiff five (furlongs) at The Curragh. 

“The five at Goodwood is faster, probably, than the York five and I look forward to seeing her back at the top level.

“I think she’ll just be allowed to get into her own rhythm at York and we could see her doing her best work late.

“She’s just restarted training the last few days and come back in super shape. She’s an amazing filly – she keeps surprising me each time. You kind of think, ‘Oh god, we’ll come out of it and she’ll have said it was one too many’, and she just bounces out of each one.”

Boughey is still finalising other runners for the four-day Sky Bet Ebor Festival but mentioned a “nice horse” called Shah who could contest the richest maiden in Britain, British Stallion Studs EBF Convivial which is worth £100,000 as are the targets for possible handicap duo, Fouroneohfever and Walbank.